A full eighteen years have passed since the brutal attack on journalist Dušan Miljuš, yet those who ordered the crime have still not been identified. Miljuš has recently retired after a distinguished journalistic career, but the mystery surrounding the attack carried out on 2 June 2008 remains unsolved.
On that day, the renowned investigative journalist was returning home after another demanding but fulfilling day at work when he was ambushed by two attackers, who repeatedly struck him on the head with batons, inflicting serious injuries.
Speaking to our portal, Miljuš recalled that the case has still not been formally resolved.
“After six months of investigation, during which the perpetrators were held in pre-trial detention, the prosecution abandoned further criminal proceedings and decided not to file an indictment due to a lack of evidence. I was told they did not want to risk the indictment being dismissed in court, so the case file remains formally open.”
Asked what the police and judicial authorities responsible for the case say today, and how they justify the fact that it has still not been fully resolved after so many years, Miljuš replied:
“They would probably repeat the familiar and somewhat worn-out phrase that ‘the criminal investigation is ongoing’, although I personally believe the case was shelved a long time ago. Right after the attack I said that identifying those who carried it out was less important than identifying those who ordered it, and I still believe that will never happen. When the police publicly asked for 100 days to solve the case, I expressed my doubts that they would succeed even in 1,000 days. It turns out I was right—not only about 1,000 days, but even after 10,000 days.”
Miljuš confirmed that the case is also approaching the statute of limitations.
“But that’s not really the point. Even if those who ordered the attack were identified today—which I honestly doubt—the passage of time would be considered a mitigating circumstance when determining their sentence. That is yet another absurdity of the Croatian justice system.”
Now retired, Miljuš says the entire experience has left him with a sense of bitterness.
“I received recognition through several international awards and honours for my work, but as far as justice is concerned, unfortunately I am not the only one left without it. What happened has left lasting consequences for my physical health and trauma from the attack, but I continued doing my job, reached retirement, and I intend to remain active for as long as I can. I leave those who ordered and carried out my beating to live with their conscience.”
The President of the Croatian Journalists’ Association, Hrvoje Zovko, stressed that the case must not be forgotten.
“The fact that exactly eighteen years—or 6,574 days—have passed since the brutal attack on our colleague Dušan Miljuš, and that we still do not know who ordered it, says a great deal about the society in which we live and work. Today it may sound like an event from the distant past, but the journalistic community must not forget it—not because of the past, but because of the future and the message we send to everyone who believes that an attack on a journalist can simply be forgotten if enough time passes.”
Miljuš sustained a fractured left arm, a concussion, and facial injuries. Even in one of the most difficult moments of his life, his journalistic instinct remained intact. While still conscious, he described how he had instinctively raised his arm to shield his head from the baton blows, suffering the arm fracture in the process. Although visibly shaken and in severe pain, he briefly recounted the attack before losing memory of the events.
“It all happened very quickly. The attackers came from behind. I felt the first blow, fell to the ground and lost consciousness. When I came to, my neighbours told me that two men had attacked me after arriving on a motorcycle. They were wearing helmets, so it was impossible to see their faces. I feel terrible now—my head hurts.”
He made one phone call to reassure his seriously ill mother, a conversation that affected him deeply.
In October 2008, at the initiative of then U.S. Ambassador to Croatia Robert Bradtke, Miljuš spent three weeks on a study visit to the United States.
“It was essentially their contribution to removing me, at least temporarily, from the stress I had been exposed to.”
He also participated in the Safe House programme in Kalmar, Sweden, from April to July 2011, a programme for journalists who have experienced violence, threats or security risks because of their work.
Miljuš has often said that he celebrates 2 June as his second birthday, the first being just a few days earlier, on 22 May.
Former Croatian President Ivo Josipović awarded Miljuš the Order of Stjepan Radić for his contribution to the fight against corruption and organised crime. He also received the prestigious Leipzig Media Award in recognition of his courageous reporting on corruption, scandals and social injustice.