Croatia: Minister Attempts to Discredit Investigative Journalist Dora Kršul After Her Corruption Exposé
The Coalition For Women In Journalism denounces the harassment of the award-winning reporter whose investigation has led to mass arrests
Location: Croatia, Zagreb
Date: November 8, 2023
Minister of Culture and Media, Nina Obuljen Koržinek, attacked the credibility and integrity of Telegram.hr journalist Dora Kršul after her corruption investigation. The Coalition For Women In Journalism stands in solidarity with Kršul and vehemently condemns the Minister’s attempt to tarnish her reputation. We call on Minister Koržinek to retract her harmful statements directed towards Kršul, whose diligent work has not only exposed extensive corruption within Zagreb University but has also led to mass arrests.
On November 8, Minister of Culture and Media Nina Obuljen Koržinek publicly criticized journalist Dora Kršul and her investigative exposé for Telegram.hr. Rather than addressing the article's concrete facts about mismanagement and financial irregularities in the use of European funds at the University of Zagreb's Faculty of Geodesy, Minister Koržinek personally attacked Kršul, accusing her of intentional misinformation.
"She said she could not believe that a piece like that was published," Kršul tells CFWIJ, “That this report and the work of mine is malicious."
Following a seven-month investigation, Kršul published an alarming report on a financial scandal involving the Ministry of Culture. The investigation focused on corruption allegations involving the Faculty of Geodesy at the University of Zagreb, particularly their use of European funds for projects. The journalist uncovered instances where funds intended for specific projects were allegedly misused, including the purchase of luxurious cars and a yacht.
As part of this extensive investigation, she delved into a project between the Faculty of Geodesy and the Ministry of Culture involving the 3D scanning of cultural buildings after earthquakes in Croatia in 2020. The Ministry of Culture reportedly provided around 5 million euros to the Faculty for the project without a public tender, raising questions about transparency and fair competition in the procurement process.
Kršul's investigative work led to the arrest of 29 people connected to the corruption scandal, bringing the issue to the forefront.
Instead of expressing shock at the misuse of European funds, Minister Koržinek and the Prime Minister reacted by attempting to undermine Kršul and her outlet Telegram.hr.
"It's very annoying to work in this kind of country where you point to corruption and criminal activities, and you would expect that they're going to deal with that criminality and corruption. But no, you are the one who is guilty of everything," Kršul expresses, frustrated with the government's rhetoric.
The gravity of the situation is intensified as the media falls under the Minister's responsibilities. The Croatian Journalists' Association (HND) expressed disappointment in the Minister's failure to fulfill the fundamental function of her department, emphasizing the dangerous precedent set when officials belittle journalists to avoid public accountability.
This attempt by a politician to undermine journalists is not an isolated incident. "It's very symptomatic,” says Kršul. “Those guys from the government, ministers and the prime minister, especially, always have this rhetoric when something like this happens. It's always our (journalists) fault."
“It’s always our (journalists) fault.”
Throughout the Balkans, political figures have consistently used their platform to target critical journalists. In 2021, CFWIJ documented an incident where Croatian President Zoran Milanovic insulted journalists from public broadcaster HRT, including reporter Ivana Silovic. Milanovic accused the journalists of being “frauds,” a “state disgrace,” and “an embarrassment to the country.” Earlier this year in Albania, the mayor of Tirana Erion Veliaj called investigative journalist Ola Xama a “contracted killer” following her exposé into waste management in the city. The leader of Republika Srpska in Bosnia Herzegovina, Milorad Dodik, has repeatedly attacked journalists and independent press outlets.
This pattern of insulting or questioning the credibility of critical journalists serves to undermine the public’s trust in the press. Throwing baseless and derogatory comments at media that are actively investigating and exposing corruption involving politicians or their allies is a specific tactic to demean and undercut the value of the corruption they expose. These attacks are a direct threat against journalists aimed at silencing their voices.
Kršul, however, remains committed to her work and emphasizes her determination to fight for a better Croatia. "I'm not going anywhere. I'm going to fight against you. I want to be able to, someday, tell my children that I fought for a better country, a better society that you can live in."
The Coalition For Women In Journalism strongly denounces Minister Nina Obuljen Koržinek's cynical attack on the award-winning journalist Dora Kršul and demands a retraction of the accusatory statement. Instead, we urge the Minister to engage with the media and address questions regarding the corruption scandal exposed by Telegram.hr.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help female career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.
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