On 14 November 2026, in Zagreb, the capital of Croatia, hundreds of people took to the streets to commemorate 32-year-old Kristian Josip Periš, who died on 21 October at the St John’s Psychiatric Clinic. Protesters honoured the deceased with eight minutes’ silence and demanded a full investigation into the circumstances of his death. Four medical staff members from the hospital were taken into custody on suspicion of murder with aggravating circumstances. According to the public prosecutor’s office, they used excessive physical force against the patient in breach of medical regulations. This was reported by AFP, the Croatian public broadcaster HRT and the Croatian public prosecutor’s office.
- On 14 November, hundreds of people in Zagreb took to the streets to commemorate 32-year-old Kristian Josip Periš.
- A man died on 21 October at St John’s Psychiatric Hospital after being physically restrained.
- Four healthcare workers have been remanded in custody on suspicion of murder with aggravating circumstances.
- A video released from the hospital caused a public outcry, and an investigation by the Ministry of Health uncovered irregularities.
- The hospital management has resigned. The family of the deceased has announced a new memorial event for 21 November.
Eight minutes’ silence in memory of the deceased
The event, entitled «Eight Minutes» Silence for Christian Josip Periš«, was organised by the student initiative »Time for Change’. In Zagreb, people gathered in Flower Square by the monument to the poet Petar Preradović.
At exactly midday, the participants fell silent for eight minutes to honour the memory of the deceased. Once the silence had ended, the square erupted in applause. People left flowers and lit candles by the monument.
According to the organisers, the duration of the protest symbolised the length of time during which the patient was believed to have been subjected to abuse whilst restrained to a hospital bed.
Similar gatherings also took place in Split, Dubrovnik and Osijek. Participants emphasised that they were calling not only for an investigation into this particular death, but also for a safe approach to people in need of psychiatric care.
One of the participants protest, Lea, a 20-year-old student, told AFP that the tragedy must not be forgotten, otherwise similar incidents could happen again.
What happened to the patient at the psychiatric hospital?
Christian Joseph Periš He died on 21 October at the St John’s Psychiatric Clinic in the Jankomir district of Zagreb. According to the public prosecutor’s office, the man had been admitted to hospital suffering from an acute mental disorder.
8 November, the District Prosecutor’s Office Zagreba announced the launch of a criminal investigation into four medical technicians at the hospital.
Investigators suspect that, whilst physically restraining the patient, the staff acted contrary to professional standards and caused him numerous bodily injuries, following which the man died.
An eight-minute video from the hospital’s CCTV cameras has also appeared online. According to reports by AFP and Croatian media, the footage shows medical staff using force against a man whose arms and legs are restrained with straps. In particular, one of the staff members was holding a pillow over his face.
The court has ordered that the four suspects be remanded in custody. The court will determine their final criminal liability, and all those involved are presumed innocent.
Following the scandal, the hospital management resigned
The patient’s death and the publication of the recordings provoked a strong reaction from the Croatian authorities. The Ministry of Health described the treatment of the defenceless patient as an unacceptable breach of professional ethics.
Minister for Health Irena Hrstić reported that a preliminary investigation had uncovered irregularities in the clinic’s operations. In particular, concerns were raised regarding the documentation of the use of physical restraint and the timely notification of the authorities regarding the patient’s death.
According to the Croatian government, the hospital only notified the ministry of the incident on 7 November, even though the death occurred on 21 October. The police received the video footage more than two weeks after the incident.
Amid the scandal, the clinic’s director Maida Grach resigned. Her deputy, the nursing adviser and four of the seven members of the institution’s governing board also stepped down.
The family of the deceased is calling for changes in psychiatric hospitals
Perish’s relatives have set out five demands to the authorities and healthcare institutions. They are insisting that all staff members who were present whilst the patient was being physically restrained be questioned, and that the rules governing the use of coercive measures be amended.
The family’s proposals include mandatory video recording of such procedures, the retention of recordings for at least six months, and a ban on actions that may impair the patient’s breathing.
The family also proposed renaming St John’s Clinic in honour of Christian Joseph Perish.
The family has planned a separate official memorial event for 21 November at 6.30 pm in Ban Josip Jelačić Square in Zagreb. The organisers have called on participants to bring white cushions as a symbol of protest against violence against patients.
As of 14 November, four healthcare workers are in custody and the criminal investigation is ongoing. The Ministry of Health is continuing its review of the clinic’s operations, whilst the exact circumstances of Perish’s death and the liability of the suspects are yet to be determined by the investigators and the court.
