Police Academy Expulsions and Benkovac Protest Events

The news in Croatian

1. napetost  (f.)
   Stanje ili osjećaj visokog stupnja napetosti između ljudi ili skupina. ↩︎
2. procedura  (f.)
   Utvrđen slijed koraka koji se provodi da bi se postigao određeni cilj. ↩︎
3. ponašanje  (n.)
   Način na koji se netko ili nešto ponaša u određenoj situaciji. ↩︎
4. crtati
   Radnja izrade slika ili uzoraka s olovkom ili drugim sredstvom za pisanje. ↩︎
5. uvredljiv
   Nešto što može izazvati uvredu ili povrijediti osjećaje osobe. ↩︎
6. festival  (m.)
   Svečanost ili priredba posvećena nekoj temi, obično uključujući glazbu, ples i druge kulturne aktivnosti. ↩︎

Translation

Text comprehension

Question 1: Why was Emilly Genda expelled from the Police Academy?

Question 2: What event took place in Benkovac?

Vocabulary

Croatian	English
napetost  (f.)	tension
procedura  (f.)	procedure
ponašanje  (n.)	behaviour
crtati	to draw
uvredljiv	offensive
festival  (m.)	festival

Read the full story

Recent events in Croatia have highlighted the ongoing friction surrounding cultural sensitivities and law enforcement procedures. In a complex incident tied to issues at the Croatian Police Academy and a protest in Benkovac, differing narratives have emerged, centring around the actions of Emilly Genda, whose controversial behaviour led to her expulsion from the academy.

Emilly Genda, whose father is a prominent war veteran association leader, was expelled from the Academy in 2019. The expulsion stemmed not only from the singing of Thompson’s songs—considered nationalistic by some—but more contentiously from activities that involved drawing offensive symbols perceived as aiming to intimidate a specific ethnic religious group within the academy. Despite public defences made by her father, official reports from the Ministry of Interior confirm these grounds for her suspension.

The Academy’s decision in Genda’s case seems to reflect broader national tensions regarding cultural expressions and their perceived links to past historical conflicts. Meanwhile, recent incidents have reignited discussions about cultural identity and the boundaries of freedom of expression within institutional settings like the police.

Another separate but concurrent event in Benkovac showcased these issues in a different light. On 22 August 2025, a cultural festival and a counter-protest organised by the Croatian War Veterans’ Association both took place, necessitating significant police involvement to maintain order. The Ministry of Interior reviewed the police response and concluded that, despite allegations of incitement and failure to act, there were no procedural lapses by officers.

The controversy involved a 32-year-old woman reportedly filming protesters, perceived as aggressive by some, which led to heightened tensions and accusations of provocations. Following the event, it was determined that a police officer, in a bid to prevent potential escalation, might have communicated clumsily, leading to misunderstandings among the public. However, the Ministry insists that all measures were in place to ensure safety and protect public assemblies.

The investigation resulted in legal proceedings against several individuals accused of breaching public peace, while no substantial evidence was found of misconduct by law enforcement. The Ministry used this incident to stress the importance of ongoing training for officers in effective communication, illustrating its commitment to upholding rights while ensuring public order.

In both cases, underlying cultural and political dynamics continue to influence public discourse in Croatia. These events underscore the delicate balance between maintaining public safety and respecting cultural expressions, a challenge prevalent in many societies today.

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