The SafeJournalists Network expresses serious concern over the decision of the Split Municipal State Attorney’s Office to file an indictment against journalist Danka Derifaj Mikulaš, cameraman Petar Janjić, and citizen Branko Miodrag for the alleged criminal offence of violating the inviolability of the home.
The case refers to an incident from August 2021, when, during the filming of the Potraga investigative TV programme, a team of journalists stepped onto the roof of a building that singer Marko Perković Thompson uses as his terrace. The terrace—or roof itself—and the right to use it have been the subject of ongoing disputes between Perković and the building’s residents. Guided by the public interest in uncovering relevant information, the journalists entered a part of the property that, at the time, was legally under the ownership of the building, but whose property status remained unresolved due to these disputes.
According to information from the Croatian Journalists’ Association (CJA), the indictment was filed without considering the fact that the journalist was at the time performing an assignment of clear public interest. The story dealt with the issue of ownership of a piece of land connected to a public figure, and there is no evidence that the entry onto the property was a conscious and intentional act of trespass.
This is the first case in almost three decades in which the Croatian State Attorney’s Office has brought charges against a journalist for actions undertaken in the course of professional duties. Such a move sets a worrying precedent and risks deterring investigative journalism. The Network also recalls the case of journalist Melita Vrsaljko, who was physically attacked more than a year ago by a person who unlawfully entered her home; in that case, no indictment has yet been filed. This comparison raises serious concerns about equality and consistency in the actions of judicial authorities.
Reporting on matters of public interest – including property disputes – must not be criminalised, and legal practice should remain free from political or social pressure. Instead of prosecuting them, state institutions should guarantee the safety and protection of journalists while they carry out their work, and courts should take into account the broader societal importance of protecting media freedom when making decisions.
The SafeJournalists Network calls on the State Attorney’s Office to consider the professional context and public interest in such cases, and urges the public and the media community to show solidarity with journalists under pressure.
The SafeJournalists Network will inform national and international actors about this incident and will continue to monitor the situation.
Any attack on journalists is an attack on democracy, public interest and basic human rights.
Pristina – Skopje – Sarajevo – Zagreb – Belgrade – Podgorica, 14 August 2025
Croatian Journalists’ Association
Association of Journalists of Kosovo
Association of Journalists of Macedonia
BH Journalists Association
Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia
Trade Union of Media of Montenegro
The source: IJAS
Photo by: Canva
