Melita Vrsaljko, a journalist from Faktograf, was physically attacked yesterday in her own home in Nadin near Zadar.
According to a statement by Melita Vrsaljko posted on her Facebook profile, the first incident occurred when she and a cameraman on their assignment were passing by private land where garbage had started to accumulate. To prevent potential filming, the landowner suddenly ran up to the journalist and cameraman, threatened with violence and damage to their equipment, and physically attacked the journalist. Vrsaljko was forced to defend herself with a kick to free herself. The incident was reported to the police, but Vrsaljko ended up with a charge and a restraining order to stay at least 50 meters away from the attacker.
The second incident occurred yesterday when the attacker’s daughter violently entered into Vrsaljko’s home. Woman physically attacked Vrsaljko, snatched her mobile phone, pulled her hair, and choked her while threatening to delete the recordings of her father and force Vrsaljko to apologize. In self-defense, Vrsaljko was forced to bite the attacker to free herself and call the police. According to CJA’s information, the police detained the attacker of the journalist Vrsaljko.
“The attack on our colleague Melita Vrsaljko is practically an attempted murder of our colleague, and CJA is shocked by what happened to our colleague. We demand condemnation of this attack by the highest officials of the Republic of Croatia. What happened is unacceptable and once again shows the daily reality for journalists where our colleagues are frequent targets of attacks,” said Hrvoje Zovko, president of the Croatian Journalists’ Association.
The SafeJournalists Network emphasizes that attacks on journalists and media workers are unacceptable and represent a serious assault on media freedom and the public’s right to information. Journalists must have the right to perform their duties safely without fear of violence and intimidation. We call on the relevant institutions, including the police and the state prosecutor’s office, to conduct a thorough investigation of these incidents and ensure that those responsible are brought to justice. We also appeal to the public and political actors to condemn all forms of violence against journalists and stand in defense of media freedom.
The SafeJournalists Network will inform relevant national and international actors about this case.
Every attack on journalists is an attack on the public interest, democracy, and the rights of all citizens.
Pristina – Skopje – Sarajevo – Zagreb – Belgrade – Podgorica, 17.07.2024
Association of Journalists of Kosovo
Association of Journalists of Macedonia
BH Journalists Association
Croatian Journalists’ Association
Independent Journalists Association of Serbia
Trade Union of Media of Montenegro
