The Slovenian authorities should stop prosecuting journalists for what they write by amending the country’s criminal code, says Dunja Mijatović, the media freedom representative of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).
Mijatović’s call followed the questioning of two journalists, Primož Cirman and Tomaž Modić, by an investigating judge for allegedly defaming the competition protection agency and some of its staff. Cirman and Modić, who write for Dnevnik in Ljubljana, face up to six months in prison if convicted.
“Criminal prosecution of journalists for what they say or write is unacceptable,” said Mijatović. “Members of the media must be able to report on issues of public interest free from fear of prosecution and potential imprisonment”.
She pointed out that there have been five cases in Slovenia in the last 12 months in which journalists have either been charged or threatened with criminal charges.
Under Slovenia’s criminal code, as amended in November 2008, charges were brought against investigative journalist Anuška Delić, who works for the daily newspaper Delo, in October last year. She is being prosecuted for publishing classified information and faces up to three years in prison.
Criminal complaints have also been made against other Dnevnik journalists, Peter Lovšin and Meta Roglič. Mijatović has intervened in all of these cases with the authorities and urged them to amend the criminal code in order to ensure that the public interest prevails.
Source: OSCE
