Two charged after Slovak nationals attack news crew filming illegal tourist apartments

Croatian police have charged two Slovak citizens, aged 64 and 20, in connection with the assault on a Nova TV news crew on the island of Vir. The incident occurred while the journalists were filming a report for the Dnevnik Nove TV news program.

According to reports, the Nova TV crew, including journalist Ivan Krznarić and cameraman David Šimičić, were documenting sealed tourist apartments. These establishments had been closed by the tourist inspection due to illegal operations. During the filming, a group of disgruntled foreign owners of the sealed apartments allegedly attacked the journalists.

The Croatian Journalists' Association (HND) strongly condemned the attack, describing it as a serious blow to media freedom and the public's right to information. The HND noted that this incident follows a previous physical assault on another Nova TV crew earlier in May.

During the Vir incident, the cameraman managed to capture footage of one attacker throwing stones at the crew. Subsequently, multiple individuals reportedly engaged in a physical assault, with the cameraman sustaining blows to his head and abdomen. Police and emergency medical services arrived at the scene promptly.

The HND praised the swift police action in apprehending the suspects and called for severe sanctions from the judicial authorities. "We welcome the police arrest of the attackers and demand the strictest sanctions for the perpetrators. Such attacks must not go unpunished," the HND stated in its release. The association emphasized that attacks on journalists undermine the freedom of the press and the public's access to information.

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HND daje punu podršku napadnutim kolegama i njihovoj medijskoj kući. Podsjećamo da se početkom svibnja ove godine dogodio i brutalan fizički napad na ekipu emisije Poziv Nove TV. Napadi na novinare i snimatelje predstavljaju ozbiljan udar na slobodu medija i pravo javnosti da bude informirana