Croatia opens misdemeanor cases against young men who missed conscription medical checks
Croatia has filed dozens of misdemeanor requests after thousands were summoned for medical and psychological exams tied to reintroduced basic military training.
Croatian authorities have started misdemeanor proceedings against young men who missed scheduled medical and psychological examinations linked to the reintroduction of basic military training, officials say. So far 57 requests to open proceedings have been filed and 19 of those cases are already closed.
About 16,000 young men received invitations for the medical checks as part of the preparations for compulsory basic military service. Croatian media have reported several individual cases in which those summoned were later sanctioned for failing to appear.
In one example, the Municipal Court in Virovitica imposed a fine of €500; other rulings imposed smaller penalties depending on the circumstances of each case. Courts examine whether the summons was properly delivered and whether there were reasons that prevented the person from attending.
Legal consequences and enforcement
Defense lawyer Mario Medak said courts weigh personal and material circumstances, especially for students and those without income. "These are young people, often high-school students without income. It is obvious that courts take that into account when setting the penalty, as well as whether someone has previous convictions," Medak said.
Medak also explained how unpaid fines are enforced: "FINA is responsible for this, and then enforces the debt collection on behalf of the state. If the person cannot pay, a prison sentence may be imposed," he explained. According to published figures, fines for a first offense range from €500 to €1,500; repeated offenses carry penalties from €1,500 up to €6,630.
The medical and psychological assessments are used to determine the health and psychophysical fitness of those called up for service. With the reintroduction of basic military training, authorities emphasize that a summons for examination is not a mere formality and that unjustified absence can trigger misdemeanor procedures — but responsibility depends on evidence about delivery of the summons and the specifics of each case.
Photo: press material from the event
