EU court rules against Czechia over death that sparked Roma Lives Matter protests

The European Court of Human Rights has ruled that Czech authorities violated the rights of Stanislav Tomáš, a Roma man who died following a police intervention in Teplice in 2021, ordering Czechia to compensate his family.

The unanimous ruling found violations of the right to life, the prohibition of inhuman or degrading treatment, and protections against discrimination. The court also criticized the investigation into Tomáš’s death, saying authorities failed to conduct an effective and independent review of the police intervention.

The case has drawn international attention since Tomáš’s death, with some human rights groups comparing it to the death of George Floyd in the United States because video footage showed police officers restraining him on the ground.

Tomáš, 36, died on June 19, 2021, shortly after being detained by police in Teplice, northern Bohemia. Police officers had restrained him face down with his hands behind his back, and footage from the incident showed an officer pressing on his neck and upper body.

At the time, police said Tomáš’s death was caused by drug intoxication and denied that the intervention was responsible. Czech authorities did not pursue criminal charges against the officers involved.

The European court found that the police had placed Tomáš in a potentially life-threatening position and failed to adequately monitor his condition after he lost consciousness.

The court said authorities had not properly addressed the risks associated with restraining a person in a prone position or ensured that officers had sufficient training for such situations.

It also criticized the investigation carried out by the General Inspection of Security Forces (GIBS), saying investigators relied too heavily on initial findings and did not sufficiently examine conflicting evidence or possible discriminatory motives.

The ruling followed a complaint filed by Tomáš’s sister with support from the European Roma Rights Centre and the Forum for Human Rights. The court ordered Czechia to pay EUR 20,000 (about CZK 485,000) in compensation for non-pecuniary damage, along with additional payments totaling EUR 10,660 (CZK 285,000) covering legal costs and expenses.

Lawyer Maroš Matiaško, who represented the family, said the ruling was significant because the court also found a violation of protections against discrimination.

The court concluded that Czech authorities had failed to properly examine whether racial motives played a role in the police action against Tomáš.

Former Czech Deputy Public Defender of Rights Monika Šimůnková, who had previously investigated the case, told Romea.cz that she welcomed the decision. She said the ruling showed the importance of protecting individual rights even when state authorities are involved.

GIBS spokesperson Jakub Augusta said the agency respected the European court’s decision but would not comment further until it had reviewed the full judgment.

The ruling is not yet final. Both sides have three months to request that the case be reviewed by the court’s Grand Chamber. If no request is accepted, the judgment will become final and be sent to the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers for supervision of its implementation.