Slovenia: CFWIJ Demands Swift Investigation Into The Perpetrators Threatened Journalist Eugenija Carl

Location: Slovenia, Koper
Date: September 30, 2021

A suspicious delivery of white powder and a threatening letter arrived at the public broadcaster RTV Slovenia, addressed to journalist Eugenija Carl. The journalist eyes water after contacting the suspicious dust. She had a bitter taste in her mouth and a burning sensation in her throat and nose. The Coalition For Women In Journalism (CFWIJ) is appalled by the vicious attack against the journalist. We demand Slovenian authorities to conduct a swift investigation to find the perpetrators and ensure Eugenija’s safety.

Eugenija Carl received a threatening letter upon her afternoon shift at RTV's regional centre in Koper. According to RTV Slovenia, the letter was sent to her from Ljubljana, the headquarter of RTV. "Unsuspectingly, I opened both envelopes when unknown dust poured in. But I also recognized the archaic handwriting I already know from past threatening letters," she described. 

After the incident, all staff of the news outlet was quarantined. Following the suspicious dust, the journalist’s eyes water. She has a bitter taste in her mouth and a burning sensation in her throat and nose. The attached letter was full of insults, vulgar words and threats against the journalist.

This is not the first incident addressed to Eugenija. According to her, such letters appear when a judgment or decision is pronounced in court cases related to Slovenian Prime Minister, Janez Janša. The journalist received a similar letter and dust in June 2020. It was the fifth time she received such threats as now. Reportedly, the handwriting of those letters indicated it was from the same person. 

Eugenija said she plans to file a criminal complaint to the police to find the perpetrators. The letters otherwise come from different places around the country. 

The management of RTV Slovenia, journalists and editors and all employees of the news platform strongly condemned the intimidation attempt. In a statement, “Free and independent journalism is one of the fundamental postulates of democracy. We would like to point out that, in Slovenia, it is necessary to strengthen the culture of public dialogue and to preserve the independence and autonomy of journalistic work at all costs,” they wrote. 

The Coalition For Women In Journalism is devastated by the vicious attempt to intimidate Eugenija. We urge Slovenian authorities to investigate and find the perpetrators immediately and ensure the journalist’s safety. Online and offline attacks may cause severe consequences.

The CFWIJ strongly condemns the police brutality against journalists. We demand the immediate return of the press cards seized from the security forces. Policies to intimidate journalists should be abandoned, and journalism should be practiced under the criteria of freedom of the press.

If you have been harassed or abused in any way, and please report the incident by using the following form.