A Croatian theoretical physicist has been released from prison after he was jailed last month following a two-month sit-in at the science ministry in Zagreb. Boris Ivetić, 36, was arrested when protesting to end alleged corruption at the University of Zagreb’s natural sciences faculty, where he is a PhD student. After serving five days in the notorious Remetinac jail near Zagreb, Ivetić was later released with all charges dropped. Ivetić says he is unsure whether he will continue to protest over conditions at the university.

According to the political party Free Croatia, Ivetić was arrested on 23 August following an altercation with the science minister Blaženka Divjak at the entrance of the ministry in Zagreb during the sit-in. Divjak allegedly tried to take away a banner held by Ivetić, which accused Divjak of hiding corruption at the University of Zagreb’s natural sciences faculty. Ivetić resisted the attempt and the ministry alleges that the physicist then verbally attacked Divjak and started walking in an intimidating way towards her. The ministry then called the police, who arrested him.

During the entire two months of demonstration, employees of the ministry have ensured Mr Ivetić’s right to demonstrate with dignity Croatian science ministry

Ivetić told Physics World that he was not aggressive towards Divjak but that his purpose was to demonstrate against “a series of irregularities” in the faculty’s work, which he claims to be able to back up with evidence. Ivetić alleges that the faculty accessed people’s e-mail accounts and hacked computers as well as sold off faculty property at below-market prices. He also claims that he has worked at the faculty for four and half years without receiving a salary. According to ministry, Ivetić demanded to be back-paid 5 million Croatian kunas (£610,000) for this work but he has denied any interest in money.

“I’m demonstrating against the ‘black market’ of teaching assistants, who work without any contract and without the approval of the faculty’s teaching committee,” says Ivetić. “Some of those assistants have been receiving their salary without any confirmation or receipts.” He also alleges that some individuals at the faculty “have been siphoning off money through bonuses for special achievements or for taking on more work, through fictitious contracts and expenses”.

‘A respectable public institution’

The faculty’s dean, Aleksandra Čižmešija, has denied all allegations about “criminality” at the faculty. “The [faculty] is a respectable public institution and it works transparently and in accordance with the law,” she told Physics World. Čižmešija adds that Ivetić’s documentation has been examined by the state labour inspectorate which found no irregularities. She refrained from further comment to not prejudice ongoing proceedings involving Ivetić at the municipal labour court in Zagreb.

The Croatian science ministry, meanwhile, says that it has held several meetings with Ivetić regarding the allegations. “During the entire two months of demonstration, employees of the ministry have ensured Mr Ivetić’s right to demonstrate with dignity,” the ministry notes.