Journalist Dario Topić, 56 years old and editor-in-chief of the local news portal Komarilos.com (https://komarilos.com/), was the victim of a premeditated attack in Osijek, Croatia, on 4 December 2024. The attack occurred while Topić was investigating the City of Osijek’s decision not to renew one company’s parking concession after 26 years. The attacker allegedly assaulted him, inflicting multiple blows. Topić sought medical care and reported the incident to the police and prosecutors.
The Croatian Journalists’ Association (Hrvatsko Novinarsko Društvo – HND – https://www.hnd.hr/) expressed outrage, condemning the attack as a deliberate effort to intimidate a journalist performing public-interest work. HND called for legal consequences under Croatia’s Penal Code against the attacker, which designates attacks on journalists as severe offenses punishable by up to three years in prison. Dario Topić is member of HND.
You can read HND article here: https://www.hnd.hr/hnd-vlasnik-tvrtke-elektromodul-brutalno-pretukao-novinara-darija-topica
On 7 December 2024 the Osijek police detained the attacker charging him with “Coercion against a person performing tasks of public interest.” Authorities acted under the established protocol for addressing crimes against journalists. However, on 10 December 2024 the Osijek State Attorney’s Office released the attacker from pre-trial detention, imposing restrictions requiring him to remain at least 100 meters away from Topić and forbidding any contact. Violating these measures could lead to his re-arrest.
As this case unfolds, organizations and advocates for press freedom emphasize that journalists must be able to investigate matters of public interest without fear of violence or retribution. The resolution of this incident will serve as a test of Croatia’s commitment to safeguarding media freedom.
The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) condemns the brutal attack on journalist Dario Topić, editor-in-chief of Komarilos.com, in Osijek, Croatia. This violent act, targeting a journalist investigating issues of public interest, is an unacceptable assault on press freedom and the safety of media professionals. SEEMO calls on Croatian authorities to ensure a thorough and swift investigation. SEEMO will be closely monitoring the progress of this case to ensure accountability and to advocate for stronger measures to safeguard journalists across the region.
South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) is a regional non-governmental, non profit network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in Southeast, South, East and Central Europe. SEEMO members are in Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Moldova (with the territory of Transdnestria), Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Türkiye / Turkey, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. Austria, Italy, Vatican and San Marino have a special status in SEEMO. SEEMO has over 3000 individual members, and additional media as corporate members.
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