The Municipal State Attorney’s Office in Osijek has informed the Croatian Journalists’ Association (CJA) that an indictment has been filed before the Municipal Court in Osijek against the perpetrator of the attack on journalist Dario Topić, who was brutally assaulted in December 2024 by Damir Taslidžić, co-owner and procurator of the company Elektromodul.
According to the indictment published on the State Attorney’s Office (DORH) website, the accused is charged with physically assaulting the journalist and editor of an online news portal (born in 1968) on December 4, 2024, in Osijek. The attack reportedly occurred after the journalist had published articles about the business operations of the accused’s company. The indictment states that Taslidžić attacked Topić with the intent to intimidate him and prevent further reporting on matters of public interest, while uttering threats related to the previously published articles.
The CJA had earlier addressed the Ministry of the Interior and the Osijek-Baranja Police Department, demanding the attacker’s arrest and that the State Attorney’s Office file an indictment for assault and bodily injury.
CJA President Hrvoje Zovko welcomed the decision of the Municipal State Attorney’s Office to press charges in this case.
“This attack, like every attack on our colleagues, is an attack on the public interest. I would also like to commend the police for their timely response in this case — it deserves recognition. In any case, those who attack journalists belong behind bars,” said Zovko.
Dario Topić, editor-in-chief of Komarilos.com and a member of the CJA, was brutally beaten by Damir Taslidžić in December 2024 in Osijek. Komarilos.com, a portal primarily focused on local issues in Osijek, had published reports on the city’s decision to terminate Elektromodul’s parking concession after 26 years, effective December 31, 2024.
Taslidžić, whose company was still the active concessionaire at the time, invited Topić to his office under the pretense of providing information about alleged corruption in the concession process. However, as soon as Topić entered, Taslidžić physically attacked and beat him — indicating that the assault was premeditated.
Topić, who continues to receive full support from the CJA, reported the incident to the police, the State Attorney’s Office, and the Association.
Under the 2020 amendments to the Croatian Criminal Code, an attack on a journalist is treated as an attack on a person performing work of public interest, punishable by up to three years in prison.