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Croatians rally in Zagreb and other cities over psychiatric patient death

Several cities · pinned on Zagreb, Croatia · Nov 14, 2026

Is it still on?

NOIt was a one-day action on Nov 14.

Last report · checked

Summary in three lines

Why they are protesting
Protesters rallied following the death of 32-year-old psychiatric patient Kristian Josip Periš at a psychiatric clinic.
What they want
Demonstrators demanded accountability, a full investigation, and improved care and safety standards for psychiatric patients.
What changed
Nov 14: Hundreds gathered across Zagreb, Split, Dubrovnik, and Osijek for an eight-minute silence and memorial.
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Both sides

What protesters want

  • A full investigation into the circumstances of the patient's death
  • Answers and accountability for the responsible parties
  • Systemic improvements in psychiatric care and patient safety
  • A safe and compassionate approach for vulnerable groups

Organised by: Studentska inicijativa "Vrijeme za promjene", Zdravi Split

What authorities say

Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković described the incident as murder. The Health Inspectorate found irregularities, the health minister announced an ongoing investigation, and the hospital director and board resigned. Prosecutors detained four medical staff members on suspicion of murder.34

The numbers

Only figures a source states, with who said it. Estimates often differ.

Crowd
100s
hundreds of people took to the streets34
Deaths
1
32-year-old psychiatric patient Kristian Josip Periš34

The full story

Hundreds of people gathered in Zagreb and several other Croatian cities, including Split, Dubrovnik, and Osijek, to commemorate 32-year-old Kristian Josip Periš, who died at the St John's Psychiatric Clinic. The demonstrations, which included an eight-minute silence symbolizing the duration of the abuse suffered by the patient, were organized by the student initiative 'Time for Change' alongside groups such as the 'Zdravi Split' initiative. Participants called for answers, accountability, and systemic improvements in the treatment and security of individuals with mental health issues. Authorities reported that four medical staff members had been taken into custody on suspicion of murder, while the hospital director and board had resigned following the incident.

Timeline

  1. Demonstrators gathered in Zagreb, Split, Dubrovnik, and Osijek for an eight-minute silence and memorial.134

Pins sit on city centres, never on gathering points

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