Croatia introduces a controversial term in the Criminal Code: journalists and opposition consider it an attempt to "shut them up"
Kyiv • UNN
Croatia has introduced a controversial law that penalizes whistleblowers who pass information from court investigations to the press, despite opposition and journalist concerns about curbing media freedom and whistleblowing.
The Croatian parliament has passed a controversial law that could penalize whistleblowers who pass information from a judicial investigation to the press. Journalists and the opposition called for a vote against the controversial article of the law, claiming that the ruling party is trying to silence journalists and whistleblowers.
This is reported by UNN with reference to ORF and Siol.
Details
The Croatian parliament has adopted new amendments to the criminal procedure concerning the issue of leakage of information from judicial investigations. The amendments to the Criminal Code provide for criminal liability for unauthorized disclosure of the contents of investigations and evidence, or leakage of information.
The controversial provision on data leakage has been in the public eye for some time now, so the opposition accuses the government of attacking the media and whistleblowers. It should be noted that the criticism had an effect, and the text of the law was amended to exclude journalists from the list of persons who may be held liable for this criminal act.
The new regulation introduced to the Criminal Code is now known as "Lex AP," after the first letters of the name of civilian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic.
Nevertheless, criticism continues to be voiced - as whistleblowers still face punishment, it is believed that this will also hinder the work of journalists. The Croatian Association of Journalists (HND) this week called on MEPs to vote against the law.
AddendumAddendum
The Croatian parliament also passed amendments to the criminal code to define the status of gender-based killings of women in the law. The penalties can range from 10 to 40 years in prison, the most severe penalty under Croatian law.
Through these changes, we are protecting the rights, safety and dignity of women and sending a message that violence against women is unacceptable
77 deputies voted in favor of the amendments to the Criminal Code, 60 voted against, the official Hina news agency reports.
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