Actual attacks on journalists, Andrea Topić, Ivanbegovina, 23.01.2020.

CJA •︎ 28/01/2020

Actual attacks on journalists, Andrea Topić, Ivanbegovina, 23.01.2020.

Translations: Zagreb 

  • Case info

  • Personal info

  • Regional center
    Zagreb
  • Who was attacked?
    Journalist
  • Gender
    Female
  • Victim(s) name
    Andrea Topić

  • Media outlet

  • Name of the media outlet
    Slobodna Dalmacija
  • Type of media platform
    Printed Media
    Online Media
  • Source of information about the incident
    Mediji

  • Incident Data

  • Date of incident
    23.01.2020
  • City
    Ivanbegovina
  • Perpetrator(s)
    Known (suspected)
  • Attacked by
    (ordinary) citizens
  • Means of incidents and attacks
    In person
  • Type of incident
    Actual attacks on journalists
  • Type of attack
    attack_physical_snatch

  • Action by the authorities

  • Police action
    The police characterized this case as unlawful deprivation of liberty and damage to another's property. Unlawful deprivation of liberty referred to in Article 136, paragraph 1 of the Criminal Code / 11. Criminal offense and damage to another's property referred to in Article 235, paragraph 1 of the Criminal Code / 11.
  • Public prosecutor's action
    On July 22, the Municipal State Attorney's Office in Split filed an indictment against four Croatian citizens (1977, 1978, 1954 and 1952). The indictment charges the defendants that on January 23, 2020, in a place near Imotski, they approached a journalist of a daily newspaper and verbally attacked her, for which she photographed a house owned by the then Minister of Health. Because of fear of their further reaction, she set in her personal vehicle, after which the four defendants surrounded her vehicle in which she was locked and for a certain time did not allow her to get out or to leave the scene by vehicle. They are charged that, in addition to preventing her from moving, they also scratched the front left door with their hands, broke the right-wing cover of the front mask, and loosened the locks on journalist personal vehicle, causing damage in the amount of HRK 600.00.
  • Type of violation
    Security threat

  • Action taken by the journalists' association

  • Was journalist's association informed by the journalists directly?
    Yes
  • What was the reaction of the journalists' association?
    The association reacted publicly
    The association sent a letter of concern to the institutions
    The association informed international organizations and institutions
    The association organized some other form of support

Andrea Topic was attacked by four men on Thursday, January 23, 2020, while investigating the property of Milan Kujundzic, Croatian Health Minister, in Ivanbegovina. While photographing the property from the road, four men approached Topic.