26 April 2024
The Croatian Minister of Culture and Media, Nina Obuljen Koržinek, has expressed her concern about the criminal complaint against Croatian cartoonist Nik Titanik
The Permanent Representation of Croatia to the Council of Europe has sent a statement (pdf) to the Platform for the Safety of Journalists in which the Croatian Minister of Culture and Media expresses “her concern regarding the filing of a criminal complaint by Krešimir Antolić, former head of the GNK “Dinamo”, against cartoonist Nikola Plečko, better known as Nik Titanik.”
The Minister pointed out that criminalising this cartoon would be an attack on freedom of expression, reminding us at the same time that “in a democratic society, freedom of expression and especially artistic freedom, which includes satire, are values that contribute to society and the community.”
The cartoonist’s trial, which has already been postponed twice, is due to take place on 13 May 2024.
Cartooning for Peace welcomes the words of the Minister for Culture and the Media and will continue to follow developments in this legal case closely.
14 December 2023
The first hearing in the trial of cartoonist Nik Titanik took place on 13 December 2023 at the Municipal Criminal Court in Zagreb.
In the absence of the two prosecution witnesses, who were unavailable for professional reasons and illness, and whose hearing has been postponed until 1 February 2024 (the hearing has been postponed to a later date which has not yet been confirmed), the court heard the plaintiff, Krešimir Antolić.
According to the 24sata (article in Croatian) report, the plaintiff detailed the psychological and physical consequences that the cartoons had had on him and members of his family.
More specifically, the dispute concerns the three cartoons and the terms “policeman” (pandur) and ” snitch” (druker) associated in the cartoons (druker pandur being equivalent to dirty cop).
Present at the hearing, the cartoonist stated that he does not consider himself guilty of the charges against him.
Cartooning for Peace hopes that the cartoonist will soon be acquitted, and will keep abreast of further legal proceedings.
7 November 2023
Croatian cartoonist Nik Titanik sued over cartoons
Croatian cartoonist Nik Titanik, who works for the newspaper 24sata among others, is the subject of a private criminal prosecution, following a complaint by Krešimir Antolić, former manager of football club GNK Dinamo (also known as Dynamo Zagreb).
The defamation complaint filed earlier this year concerns the three cartoons below, published in the sports supplement of the newspaper 24sata in March 2020. Citing the emotional pain caused by the cartoons, Krešimir Antolić also sued the newspaper earlier this year and won at first instance. The newspaper has appealed the decision. If convicted, the cartoonist would be required to pay a fine equivalent to 38 days’ pay. If he refuses, he could face a prison sentence.
The first hearing is scheduled for 7 November 2023 at 12 noon at the Municipal Criminal Court, Ilica 207, Zagreb.
Representation of Krešimir Antolić wearing a badge with the words “druker” (renegade or traitor) on the phone with Zdravko Mamić (Executive Director of the club from 2013 to 2016, involved in several scandals) and Zoran Mamić (former player and coach of the club).
Left: “Yes, Dad, I’ll do that! On command! How’s it going in the hole? Quarantine? I’m kissing your bum, have a nice day!”Right: “Good boy”
Caption: “A look through the microscope reveals the real cause of the bad situation at Dynamo “
On the viruses: “Mum (referring to club president Mirko Barišić), secretary, view of Medjugorje (referring to Zdravko Mamić’s departure to Bosnia-Herzegovina after his trial), Dalton (referring to Zdravko Mamić’s brother Zoran), dirty cop, bootlicker, sell-out journalist” (Copyright Nik Titanik)
“Zdravko Mamić is the club’s advisor, but this decision was made independently by the club’s management. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to go and do some rectal searches for new advice.
“On the badge: “Traitor”
(Copyright Nik Titanik)
Judge Mario Klarić, in charge of the case against the newspaper 24sata, stated that “the cartoons violated the plaintiff’s personality rights in a vulgar manner, explaining that the text ‘depicts and describes the plaintiff in an extremely inappropriate, offensive and vulgar manner, mainly by using a series of extremely insulting and humiliating expressions used in an ironic and derogatory manner, to describe the position he holds as a member of the GNK Dinamo board of directors'”. For her part, Vanja Jurić, the cartoonist’s lawyer, stressed that the criminalisation of caricatures and satire demonstrates a lack of understanding of the foundations of freedom of expression and the standards that should form the basis of any advanced society.
In a press release sent to the Croatian media on 3 November 2023, the cartoonist stated that “This is an unprecedented case in the entire history of the Croatian state where a private criminal complaint has been filed because of a caricature. In the event of a final verdict finding me guilty, this case could serve as a legal precedent for all future cases where the works of public figures are criticized, which will significantly endanger media and democratic freedoms in Croatia and limit the free work of all caricaturists, humorists, satirists, stand-up comedians, photo montage artists, and other similar artists, but also all journalists who write critically about public figures and topics important to the public.”
According to Total Croatia, the Croatian Journalists’ Association (HND) and Nik Titanik’s colleagues have lent their support to the cartoonist. The President of the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), Maja Sever, pointed to the recurrence of SLAPP’s in Croatia, echoing an observation made by Reporters Without Borders (RSF): ” the government is failing to protect journalists against legal attempts to muzzle them, and against organized crime”.
Recalling that freedom of expression is a fundamental right protected by law, Cartooning for Peace condemns the obstinacy and calls for the prosecution of the cartoonist to be dropped. In a report produced with Cartoonists Rights, published on the same day as the cartoonist’s hearing, Cartooning for Peace and its partner warn of the ever-increasing and unjustified criminalisation of press cartoonists.
