Drahomír Radek Horváth, a Romani social services staffer for a human rights organization, was in a Děčín restaurant with friends at the end of November when they became the target of vulgar racist abuse and death threats. Horváth did not allow himself to be provoked and reported the entire incident to police.
After less than a month, the police have now shelved the case, saying facts have not been discovered to justify the suspicion that a particular individual had committed the infraction. "What are you dirty gypsies doing here?! Get out of here right now, this place is only for whites! Black gypsies have no business in a Czech pub! Get out of here, you black mugs, or I’ll kill you all," a non-Romani customer in the Sport-bar shouted at Horváth and his friends.
"The pub was full of people, but a slim, small waitress was the only person to stand up for me and shout down the racist assailant. It was a sad thing, and also traumatizing. I did achieve my personal goal of not letting myself be provoked, but I was not satisfied," Horváth told news server Romea.cz at the time.
Horváth filed a criminal report against the racist. "Understandably I reported the matter to the Police of the Czech Republic and wrote up my testimony. In my opinion, the assailant’s behavior meets the definition of at least three provisions of the Criminal Code," Horváth said.
Even though the name of the racist was provided to the police, they have now shelved the case. "In response to your request for a communication in the matter of the misdemeanor against civil coexistece per Section 49/1 c), e) of Act No. 200/1990 Coll, on misdemeanors, which you reported on 23 November 2014 at 06:35 to the Děčín Regional Department, OOP Děčín – město, Kaštanová 301/2, 405 58 Děčín, we inform you that on 20 December 2014 your report has been postponed in accordance with section 58 paragraph 3 letter b) of Act No. 200/1990 Coll, on misdemeanors, as amended, because facts have not been discovered within one month of the report to justify the suspicion that a particular individual committed this infraction," reads the communication, which Horváth has provided to news server Romea.cz.
"Foolishly, I was under the impression that the law prevails in this country and that justice can be achieved through the official route. Now I am exceedingly disgusted with the work of the Police of the Czech Republic in Děčín, and even though I will ask the State Prosecutor to review this matter, I am a skeptic when it comes to this case. However, it would be a great error to assume that I am drowning in depression or that I will be weeping over the fact that my actions were in vain. Not at all – next time I will behave differently in such a situation," Horváth told news server Romea.cz.
