Bratislava – Slovakia will officially file a complaint against Belgium at the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in Strasbourg concerning the 2018 death of Slovak national Jozef Chovanec.
The decision was confirmed by Slovak Foreign Minister Juraj Blanàr during a meeting of European Foreign Ministers, where he informed his Belgian counterpart, Maxime Prévot, of the move.
According to the Slovak news agency TASR, Blanàr conveyed to Prévot that Slovakia’s Ministry of Justice would be proceeding with the complaint due to significant procedural and investigative failures in the case. Belgium’s Foreign Ministry later confirmed the exchange.
Jozef Chovanec, a 38-year-old businessman from Slovakia, suffered a fatal heart attack on 24 February 2018 while in custody at Charleroi Airport in Belgium.
He had been detained by airport police after displaying aggressive behavior when attempting to board a flight back to Slovakia. CCTV footage from his holding cell later revealed disturbing details of his treatment at the hands of Belgian authorities.
Chovanec, reportedly in a delirious state, repeatedly banged his head against the cell wall, injuring himself. Instead of receiving medical attention, he was forcefully subdued by multiple officers.
The footage showed police restraining him, wrapping his head in a blanket, and administering a sedative injection. The video also captured disturbing moments where officers were seen laughing, and one female officer was filmed giving a Nazi salute.
The case has sparked outrage in Slovakia and beyond, with Chovanec’s family and human rights advocates demanding justice for years.
The lack of accountability and perceived procedural flaws in the Belgian investigation have led Slovak authorities to escalate the matter to the ECHR.
“Slovakia has been closely monitoring this case, and we cannot accept the way the investigation was handled,” Blanàr stated. “It is crucial that justice is served, and the rights of Slovak citizens abroad are protected.”
Despite the international attention and a 2021 reconstruction of events, no significant legal action has been taken against the officers involved.
Belgian authorities have maintained that investigations were conducted properly, though critics argue that key aspects of the case were mishandled or overlooked.
Chovanec’s widow, Henrieta Chovancová, has been at the forefront of the legal battle, calling for stronger action against the officers involved.
“My husband’s death was not just a tragic accident—it was a failure of justice. We hope that the European Court will recognize this and hold those responsible accountable,” she said in an earlier statement.
Slovakia’s decision to take the case to the European Court is expected to place further pressure on Belgium’s legal system and could have broader implications for police accountability within the European Union.
The European Court of Human Rights will now assess the admissibility of Slovakia’s complaint before deciding on further proceedings.
If the case is accepted, Belgium may have to answer for potential human rights violations related to Chovanec’s death, adding to ongoing scrutiny of law enforcement practices in the country.
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members
