Croatian lawmaker denies son's arrest, calls reports 'hybrid operation'

Independent Croatian Parliament member Josip Jurčević stated he has no information regarding the arrest of his son, learning about the situation through media reports. Jurčević dismissed the news, which he said included his son's identity, as a "hybrid operation" orchestrated against him. He believes the timing and nature of the reports are intended to discredit his recent public statements concerning systemic political corruption in Croatia.

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If anything happened, of course, as a father, I am sorry, but all my children are adults, they are responsible for what they do and I raised them that way.

"I have no information. The first information came to me last night when it was published in the media, I wasn't worried at all nor did I try to call my son, who is an adult," Jurčević told reporters. He added that he does not know if his son is currently in detention. Zagreb police reported that a 22-year-old, along with two other men, is suspected of extortion and assault against a 21-year-old and his parents in February.

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I have no information. The first information came to me last night when it was published in the media, I wasn't worried at all nor did I try to call my son, who is an adult.

Jurčević expressed fatherly regret if any wrongdoing occurred but emphasized that his children are adults responsible for their own actions. He views the media's focus on his son's identity, which he claims was not in the official police report, as politically motivated. He linked the reports to a press conference he held the previous day, where he warned about "systemic political corruption" and alleged attempts to "occupy the Croatian scientific and academic system."

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I think this is a hybrid operation. Some media did not report on yesterday's press conference, but they published this information without any official police or other reports. I believe the reason is precisely what I spoke about yesterday and that it is directed against me. This is the deep state.

He believes the current situation is designed to neutralize the issues he raised. While expressing confidence in the professionalism of police officers, Jurčević voiced distrust in the political leadership of the system. He awaits official statements from institutions and expects the public to be informed about the matters he discussed at his press conference, not just this newly surfaced story lacking official sources.

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Yesterday we pointed out something crucial: that the Croatian scientific and academic system is the only one capable of understanding the genesis of systemic political corruption and opposing it. That is precisely why I believe they are now trying to neutralize that topic.