Four nurses arrested after death of patient in Croatian psychiatric clinic

On November 14, 2026, widespread public outrage erupted in Croatia following the death of 32-year-old patient Kristijan Josip Peris at a psychiatric hospital in Zagreb. A disturbing eight-minute security video surfaced, allegedly showing nursing staff mistreating the patient, who had been admitted while suffering from psychosis.

In response to the incident, authorities have arrested four nurses who are currently held in custody facing charges of aggravated homicide. On Saturday, hundreds of citizens gathered in the Croatian capital, as well as in Split, Dubrovnik, and Osijek, to participate in memorial vigils. Participants observed eight minutes of silence—matching the duration of the video footage—and placed candles to honor the victim, demanding a thorough investigation and improvements to patient safety protocols in medical facilities.

The protests, which remained non-political, were organized primarily by student groups to show solidarity with the victim's family. While the criminal investigation into the four suspects remains ongoing, the incident has reignited a national debate concerning the quality of care and the treatment of vulnerable patients within the country's psychiatric healthcare system.