Croatian public figure Ava Karabatić reported her partner for abuse in Belgrade, but police found she violated Serbia's foreign residence rules and filed a misdemeanor charge against her.
Croatian public figure Ava Karabatić (38) was detained on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, in Belgrade after, according to her own account, she managed to escape from a partner she had reported for abuse. As Serbian media report, Karabatić told police that her partner had kept her under control and locked in an apartment in the Belgrade neighborhood of Resnik.
According to information published by the Serbian outlet Telegraf and carried by 24sata, Karabatić sought help at the building of the Croatian General Consulate on Knez Miloš Street in Belgrade after fleeing. She was then taken to the police station in Rakovica, where she gave a statement about the events she reported.
Police, according to Serbian media, attempted to locate the partner Karabatić had reported. According to reports, he did not answer calls, and a police patrol did not find him at the location in Resnik where he had previously been. The Serbian outlet states that police are still searching for him.
The case, however, took an unexpected turn. After police officers checked Karabatić's immigration status as a foreign national, it was determined that she had not complied with regulations regarding foreign residence in Serbia. Police, in cooperation with the Administration for Foreigners, conducted a check of her status and filed a misdemeanor charge against her on suspicion of violating the Foreigners Act.
According to available information, Karabatić was brought before the duty misdemeanor judge, and after the court proceedings, further action is expected from the competent authorities for foreigners, namely the Administration for Foreigners.
The situation thus completely reversed within just a few hours: Karabatić, according to her own claims, came to the police to report abuse and seek help, only to find herself in a misdemeanor proceeding over her residence status. This incident has once again brought to the fore the issue of the position of victims of abuse who, in addition to reporting violence, may face additional legal or administrative challenges.
The further course of the situation will depend on the decisions of the competent authorities in both proceedings, one dealing with the abuse allegations and the other concerning her stay in Serbia.
