Six Romani boys aged between 10 and 16 were forced by at least six Slovak police officers to violently hit each other, kiss each other and strip naked in Košice, Slovakia on the 21st March 2009. It’s also been reported in the Slovak media that the police officers then let their dogs loose on the boys and that 2 of the boys were bitten by them.

A copy of the video footage, believed to have been shot using a mobile phone, was sent to the Slovak newspaper SME and published on the 7 April 2009.

The day after the video footage was released, it was reported that 14 police officers were placed under inspection by the Ministry of Interior and on 15th April seven officers were accused of abuse of power of the public authority and of blackmail. It is believed that six of the officers have since been dismissed.

Amnesty International and the European Roma Rights Centre sent a letter to the Slovak government and police authorities on the 21st April urging them to set up an independent and impartial investigation into the cruel and degrading treatment of the six Romani youths, that those responsible are prosecuted and that the victims are provided with compensation, including ensuring that psychological counselling is made available to the children.

Slovakia’s commitments under international human rights law, including the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, the Convention Against Torture and Other Forms of Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment, and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, all persons – regardless of their alleged involvement in illegal activities- have the right to be free from torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment and to be treated with humanity and with respect for the inherent dignity of the person. Additionally the Slovak Criminal Code criminalizes torture and other inhuman or cruel treatment and abuse of power and imposes additional penalties for a crime motivated by national, ethnic or racial hatred.

link to ERRC