Criminal insult used for silencing journalists in Croatia, says OSCE media freedom representative

VIENNA, 8 April 2014 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović today expressed deep concern about recent convictions and pending charges against journalists for criminal defamation and insult in Croatia.

“This sends a chilling message which could restrict the free flow of information and hamper reporting on matters of public interest. I call on the Croatian government to remove offences against reputation from the criminal code and to fully decriminalize defamation,” Mijatović wrote in a letter to Foreign Minister Vesna Pusić.

Recently journalists Slavica Lukić and Vladimir Matijanić were convicted for criminal insult, even though they were reporting on issues of clear public interest. According to the Croatian Journalists Association, there are more than 40 criminal insult cases pending against journalists in the country.

In the letter, the Representative said that the current Croatian legal definitions of “insult” and “shaming” are vague, open to individual interpretation and, thus, prone to arbitrary application.

“Free speech should not be subject to criminal charges of any kind,” Mijatović said. “My Office consistently advocates for the full decriminalization of defamation in all OSCE participating States.”

The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media observes media developments in all 57 OSCE participating States. She provides early warning on violations of freedom of expression and media freedom and promotes full compliance with OSCE media freedom commitments. Learn more at www.osce.org/fom, Twitter: @OSCE_RFoM and on facebook.com/osce.rfom.