Croatia: string of attacks on journalists raises OSCE concerns

Link: OSCE

OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović wrote to Croatia’s Foreign Minister Vesna Pusić, calling for swift and transparent investigations following an alarmingly high number of attacks on journalists in the country over the last two months.

“The authorities play a critical role in ensuring that alternative, critical, and provocative voices and opinions in a democratic society are protected,” Mijatović wrote in her letter to the Foreign Minister.

Most recently, a prominent theatre director and columnist Oliver Frljić has been receiving threats.

Additionally, on 7 August, a group of journalists and activists, including journalists Hrvoje Šimičević and Vladimir Kinđerski were physically attacked by unknown persons as they were leaving a theatre in Rijeka, after Oliver Frljić’s play.

In her letter to Foreign Minister Pusić, the Representative raised several other cases of death threats and physical attacks on members of the media. They include attacks and threats against:

• Saša Leković, the President of the Croatian Journalists’ Association;
• Domagoj Margetić, freelance journalist;
• Drago Pilsel, journalist with the daily newspaper Novi List;
• Katarina Marić Banje, journalist with the daily newspaper Slobodna Dalmacija;
• Ivica Marijačić, editor-in-chief, and Antonio Mlikota, graphic designer, with the weekly newspaper Hvratski tjednik;
• Domagoj Mikić, journalist with Nova TV.

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“As far as I am aware, all these cases remain unresolved,” Mijatović wrote. “Condemnation coming from the highest level of government should be a clear sign these acts of intimidation and violence against journalists will not be tolerated.”

In her letter, the Representative welcomed the latest progress in the investigation of the attempted murder of investigative journalist and blogger Željko Peratović. Three men were placed under investigation the day after the attack on suspicion of inflicting bodily harm. A court ruled last week that they should instead be investigated for the more serious offence of attempted murder.

“I raised this case in a public statement on 29 May, and I am encouraged by the swift reaction and positive developments in this investigation,” Mijatović said.