Plenković: Embassy will cover the costs of 'BBB' return from Greece

(Patria) - Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković stated on Sunday, regarding the release of some Croatian fans from Greek prisons, that the Embassy of the Republic of Croatia in Athens has been instructed to cover the entire package of costs for their return if they lack funds, adding that they are returning to Croatia individually.

"That's what the state is for, to help citizens who are far from their homeland, friends, home, and family, and to help them," Plenković told reporters after laying a wreath at the grave of Franjo Tuđman at Mirogoj.

Plenković reminds that the decision to release 31 Croatian citizens from Greek custody was made on Friday.

"We are in circumstances where they were detained, how they arrived, whether some of them even have documents, funds, or anything with them. They are located throughout Greece in various prisons. An unprecedented process is happening, Greek courts, Greek prosecution, and their prison system are working on weekends, which has never happened before. Greece has made an effort, after the decision made on Friday, to take an extraordinary step and release them as soon as possible. In these circumstances, the Croatian Embassy in Athens is working non-stop and has open doors for Croatian citizens," Plenković explained.

So far, he says, just under 20 of them have come to the embassy, some of them requested travel documents because they have no identification.

"Some of them have requested support to be given financial means to buy tickets to return to Croatia. None of them have requested bail money so far. The bail is currently being paid by the lawyer engaged there, and I assume it will be refunded by the families later. The embassy has been instructed to cover this entire package that might arise - bail, travel documents, travel costs to Croatia, and it will be resolved later. This is essentially a completely normal procedure when Croatian embassies and consulates assist Croatian citizens in situations where they are in difficulties and lack funds," emphasized the Croatian Prime Minister.

When asked if they will have to repay the money, Plenković said that the embassy will handle it.

When asked if they will all return together and if there will be organized transport, he said that most of those released on Friday, or being released on Friday, Saturday, only three or four of them were in Athens.

"They are in different parts of Greece and different prisons. In agreement with the embassy and the Greek police, the vast majority of them have been escorted by the Greek police to Athens, which is good for them and their safety, and they are returning today, each in individual arrangements," Plenković explained, reports Hina.