May 6, 2021 – Croatian President Zoran Milanovic verbally attacked journalists working for the Croatian public broadcaster HRT. He accused reporters including Ivana Silovic of being ‘frauds’ and a ‘state disgrace’, ‘and ‘an embarrassment to the country. The Coalition For Women In Journalism (CFWIJ) is utterly dismayed by the attacks of Milanovic. We find these attacks a direct threat against journalists to silence them. 

President Zoran Milanovic's statement to the media on an official visit to the Split City Council session soon turned into a discussion with HRT journalists over the selection of guests invited to another HRT program. Milanovic verbally attacked Ivana Silovic, reporter of HRT, and accused her colleague of being an ‘average trickster’. 

According to Balkan Insight, the President said, “You are usurping space, let [we hear from] other television stations … You are mercenaries of one [political] option, that’s a disgrace”. “Do not be in solidarity with HRT, these journalists are the only ones who know that they will receive a salary,” he added in his insulting speech. 

Thereafter HRT denounced the President addressing his accusations as a direct threat against journalists. The news outlet described it as “an attack from a position of power on journalistic freedoms and the editorial policy of the public media service”. “We express our concern over the open allusion that HRT and its employees will experience the fate of the former Vjesnik. This is a direct threat to the public media service and its employees,” said in the condemnation.

The Coalition For Women In Journalism condemns Croatian President Zoran Milanovic’s attacks against journalists. Targeting journalists is a reprehensible act often used to silence their voices.