Threats against media outlets and organizations, Novosti and Vida TV, Zagreb, 3.5.2023.

CJA •︎ 20/05/2023

Threats against media outlets and organizations, Novosti and Vida TV, Zagreb, 3.5.2023.

Translations: Zagreb 

  • Case info

  • Personal info

  • Regional center
    Zagreb
  • Who was attacked?
    Organization

  • Media outlet

  • Name of the media outlet
    Novosti and Vida TV
  • Type of media platform
    Radio
    Printed Media
    Online Media
  • Source of information about the incident
    Novosti and Vida TV

  • Incident Data

  • Date of incident
    03.05.2023
  • City
    Zagreb
  • Perpetrator(s)
    Known (suspected)
  • Attacked by
    By public official(s) and/or representative(s) of the executive power
    Politician(s) / political party(ies) (other than public officials)
  • Means of incidents and attacks
    In person
  • Type of incident
    Threats against media outlets and organizations
  • Type of threat
    Aggressive, harassing or discriminatory statements

  • Action by the authorities

  • 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

After an article was published in Hrvatski tjednik, Željko Sačić (Hrvatski suverenisti) led the attack on Novosti during a parliamentary session. He claimed that there were Greater Serbian tendencies in Croatia and accused Novosti of anti-Croatian propaganda and inciting intolerance towards the Croatian people. Nikola Grmoja (Most) followed up on his statements, criticizing Novosti for not writing exclusively about minority issues. Milorad Pupovac (SDSS), president of SNV, condemned these attacks as shameful and left the parliament in protest. Ružica Vukovac (Za pravednu Hrvatsku) further accused Novosti of writing falsehoods and called on Minister of the Interior Davor Božinović to initiate proceedings against the editor-in-chief of Novosti. This call was even too much for the Speaker of the Parliament Gordan Jandroković, who condemned the call for prosecution over newspaper articles. Sandra Benčić (Možemo) criticized the radical behavior of certain MPs and emphasized the need for a progressive front in defense of minority rights. Marijan Pavliček (Suverenisti) and Miro Bulj (Most) also attacked Novosti, accusing them of “spitting on the foundations of the state” and spreading hatred towards Croatia.