Slovenia: CFWIJ condemns the suppression of press freedom by Janez Jansa’s government

February 17, 2021— Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Jansa is reportedly waging a war against a journalist critical of the government's policies. Jansa called the Slovenian Press Agency (STA) a national disgrace and criticized Radiotelevizija Slovenija (RTV) for propagating lies and disinformation intended to misguide the public. The prime minister’s denunciation has undermined journalists, especially women in the profession. Many have reported an influx of threatening letters, emails, phone calls, and hateful messages on social media. CFWIJ condemns the Slovenian government’s forceful intimidation of women journalists. We hope that the Slovenian authorities will comply with the European press freedom standards and end the harassment.

The Slovenian Press Agency’s editor-in-chief Barbara Strukelj admitted the organization’s independence is at risk given the continuous political pressure. This intimidation not only affects their reporting but permeates their daily life. Another female journalist at RTV reported an anonymous letter she received to the Slovenian Association of Journalists, describing it as threatening.

While maintaining anonymity, a senior woman journalist from a public media house said, “People have become frightened. When a woman does a story, everybody says she is a wh**e, she is a bi**h, and psychologically this situation is like a war.” Petra Lesjak Tusek, president of the Slovenian Association of Journalists, reiterated, “Press freedom is in more and more danger.” She criticized this pattern of intimidation by saying, “Only a few countries in Europe have experienced such a swift downturn in press and media freedom.”

Officials in the Slovenian government refuse to acknowledge their mishandling, as they consider journalists with a critical approach as the real problem. In October 2020, 22 Slovenian editors wrote an open letter addressing the threats to press freedom in the country. The letter focused on the intimidation of the media in the country, stating that “Local journalists are subjected to direct lying, insinuation, manipulations, and insults from those in power, starting with the top of the government.” 

The Coalition For Women In Journalism recorded three cases of legal harassment in Slovenia last year. CFWIJ condemns the unjustified intimidation and harassment of journalists by the Slovenian government. We urge the Solevian prime minister to retract the political pressure on critical voices and allow the free press to thrive in the country. CFWIJ stands in solidarity with the hardworking women journalists, and we applaud their courage and dedication to their work.