Journalist Ivan Krznarić and Cameraman David Šimičić were physically attacked while filming a report on illegally rented apartments. The Croatian Journalists' Association demands the harshest penalties for the perpetrators.
On Tuesday, July 28, 2026, at around 10:30 AM, a serious attack occurred on the island of Vir against a Nova TV news crew. Journalist Ivan Krznarić (30) and cameraman David Šimičić (40) were attacked while filming a report in front of one of the buildings that the tourism inspection of the State Inspectorate had sealed due to illegal apartment rentals.
The Zadar Police Department reported that two men, both Slovak citizens aged 64 and 20, approached the journalist and cameraman and verbally and physically attacked them with the aim of preventing them from doing their job. The cameraman sustained minor injuries, several blows to the head and abdomen, and according to the footage recorded by the crew, one of the attackers also threw stones at them.
The suspects were arrested the same day, in cooperation with police officers from the Lika-Senj Police Department. After the criminal investigation was completed, on Wednesday, July 30, they were handed over to the custody supervisor of the Zadar police. A criminal complaint was filed against them with the State Attorney's Office in Zadar for the criminal offense of Coercion against a person performing tasks of public interest or in public service.
The police emphasized that throughout the case they acted in accordance with the Protocol on Procedures upon Learning of a Criminal Offense Committed Against Journalists and Other Media Workers, which the Ministry of the Interior signed with the Croatian Journalists' Association and the Union of Journalists of Croatia. "In this case, we acted in accordance with the Protocol on Police Procedures upon Learning of a Criminal Offense Committed Against Journalists and Other Media Workers in the Performance of Their Duties," the police stated for Tportal.
The Croatian Journalists' Association strongly condemned the attack and demanded the harshest penalties. "Attacks on journalists and cameramen represent a serious blow to media freedom and the public's right to be informed. We welcome the police arrest of the attackers and demand the harshest sanctions for the perpetrators. Such attacks must not go unpunished," the HND said, as reported by Dnevno.hr.
There is some disagreement about the number of attackers involved. While the police charge two Slovak citizens, the HND states that according to the attacked journalists, more people were involved in the incident, a group of dissatisfied owners of sealed buildings, foreign nationals. Police and an ambulance arrived at the scene immediately.
The case further highlights the pressures faced by media workers in Croatia, especially when reporting on illegal activities during the tourist season.
