VJT statistics on attacks against journalists from 2016 to the end of June 2025.

During the year 2025, public prosecutors formed a total of 44 cases (4 in January, 7 in February, 10 in March, 7 in April, 7 in May, and 9 in June) based on submitted criminal complaints/reports, related to events harming 46 victims, specifically 40 individual persons performing public interest jobs in the field of information, of which 22 victims were male (55%) and 18 were female (45%).

Of the total number of cases, 21 were formed in the Special Public Prosecutor's Office for High-Tech Crime, representing 47.73% of the total number of cases. These cases were related to events harming 18 victims, or 17 individual persons performing public interest jobs in the field of information, of which 5 victims were male (29.41%) and 12 were female (70.59%).

As of June 30, 2025, the following actions have been taken in the formed cases:

• In 1 case, a conviction was rendered;
• In 2 cases, proceedings are ongoing before the court based on the public prosecutor's indictment;
• In 2 cases, a decision was made to dismiss the criminal complaint;
• In 6 cases, an official note was issued stating that there is no basis for initiating criminal proceedings;
• In 1 case, evidence-gathering actions are ongoing;
• In 25 cases, a request for gathering necessary information was submitted;
• In 5 cases, the allegations of the criminal complaint or information collected during the preliminary investigation are being reviewed for decision-making;
• In 1 case, a decision is being made on the initiative to initiate proceedings for resolving jurisdictional conflicts;
• In 1 case, even after taking measures in the preliminary investigation, the potential perpetrator has not been identified.

A first-instance or final decision was made in 9 cases, representing 20.45% of the total number of cases.

Overview from 2016 to April 2025

In the period from January 1, 2016, to June 30, 2025, public prosecutors formed a total of 634 cases based on submitted criminal complaints/reports, related to events harming 685 victims, or 573 individual persons performing public interest jobs in the field of information, of which 341 victims were male (59.51%) and 232 were female (40.49%).

Out of the total number of cases, 348 cases were formed in the Special Public Prosecutor's Office for High-Tech Crime, which represents 54.89% of the total number of cases. These cases were related to events harming 351 victims, or 283 individual persons performing public interest jobs in the field of information, of which 149 victims were male (52.65%) and 134 were female (47.35%).

Of the total 634 cases, the decision that no elements of a criminal offense for which prosecution is conducted ex officio were established was made in 258 cases (40.69%), while in 376 cases (59.31%) there is reasonable suspicion that a criminal offense has been committed against the safety of journalists.

In the 376 cases where it was assessed that there is reasonable suspicion that a criminal offense for which prosecution is conducted ex officio has been committed, the following actions have been taken:

• In 99 cases (26.34%), some form of criminal sanction has been imposed or the prosecution has been transferred to a foreign state;
• In 19 cases (5.05%), the court dismissed or rejected the indictment or acquitted the defendant;
• In 118 cases (31.38%), evidence-gathering actions, investigations, international legal assistance procedures, or main hearings before the competent court are ongoing;
• In 140 cases (37.23%), even after taking preliminary investigative actions, the potential perpetrator has not been identified.

Actions Taken During the Period

Considering the total number of cases, which encompasses all events known to the public prosecutor's office, as of June 30, 2025, the following actions have been taken:

• In 75 cases, a conviction was rendered;
• In 21 cases, the perpetrator was sanctioned by imposing obligations prescribed by the Criminal Procedure Code regarding deferred prosecution (opportunity), which obligations have been fully met, while in 1 case the application of the deferred prosecution institute is ongoing;
• In 1 case, a minor perpetrator was sanctioned by the application of a corrective order, which obligation has been fully completed;
• In 6 cases, the court rejected the prosecution's indictment;
• In 1 case, the court dismissed the prosecution's indictment;
• In 12 cases, an acquittal was rendered;
• In 131 cases, a decision was made to dismiss the criminal complaint;
• In 2 cases, a decision was made that there is no basis for initiating preparatory proceedings against a minor perpetrator;
• In 125 cases, an official note was issued stating that there is no basis for initiating criminal proceedings;
• In 1 case, in the process of international legal assistance in criminal matters, the criminal prosecution was transferred to the competent authorities of another state;
• In 14 cases, proceedings are ongoing before the court based on the public prosecutor's indictment;
• In 5 cases, evidence-gathering actions are ongoing;
• In 3 cases, international legal assistance procedures in criminal matters are ongoing;
• In 85 cases, a request for gathering necessary information was submitted;
• In 11 cases, the allegations of the criminal complaint or information collected during the preliminary investigation are being reviewed for decision-making;
• In 1 case, a decision is being made on the initiative to initiate proceedings for resolving jurisdictional conflicts;
• In 140 cases, even after taking measures in the preliminary investigation, the potential perpetrator has not been identified.

A first-instance or final decision was made in 375 cases, representing 59.15% of the total number of cases.

Detailed information on cases and procedures can be found here.

Yearly Overview

According to reporting years, the data is as follows:

Year 2024

During 2024, based on submitted criminal complaints/reports, 64 cases were opened in public prosecutor’s offices in connection with events involving 66 victims. Among them were 49 individual persons engaged in public interest work in the field of information. Of these, 22 were male (44.9%) and 27 female (55.1%).

Out of the total number of cases, 44 (68.75%) were opened in the Special Public Prosecutor’s Office for High-Tech Crime. These involved 41 victims, specifically 28 individuals engaged in public interest work in the field of information, of whom 9 were male (32.14%) and 19 female (67.86%).

As of June 30, 2025, the following actions had been taken in the formed cases:

• 1 case resulted in a conviction;

• 1 case ended with the perpetrator sanctioned through deferred prosecution obligations under the Criminal Procedure Code (opportunity principle), which were fully met;

• 1 case ended with the court rejecting the proposal for mandatory psychiatric treatment and discontinuing the proceedings;

• 6 cases were dismissed;

• 11 cases resulted in official notes stating there was no basis to initiate criminal proceedings;

• 3 cases are in court proceedings following an indictment;

• 2 cases are in the evidence-gathering stage;

• 26 cases had a request submitted for collecting necessary information;

• 2 cases are under review based on information collected during the pre-investigation stage;

• 11 cases had no identified perpetrator despite pre-investigation actions.

A first-instance or final decision was made in 20 cases, or 31.25% of the total.

Year 2023

From January 1 to December 31, 2023, 77 cases were initiated based on submitted criminal complaints/reports, involving 76 victims, including 57 individuals in public interest roles in information, 38 of whom were male (66.67%) and 19 female (33.33%).

Out of the total, 39 cases (50.65%) were opened in the Special Prosecutor’s Office for High-Tech Crime. These related to 37 victims, including 28 individuals in public interest information roles (19 male – 67.86%, and 9 female – 32.14%).

As of June 30, 2025, the following actions were taken:

• 12 convictions;

• 1 case where the indictment was rejected by the court;

• 14 dismissed cases;

• 14 cases with official notes stating no basis for prosecution;

• 4 cases undergoing court proceedings;

• 5 cases with requests for necessary information;

• 1 case under review based on pre-investigation data;

• 26 cases with unidentified perpetrators after pre-investigation.

First-instance or final decisions were made in 41 cases (53.25%).

Year 2022

From January 1 to December 31, 2022, 87 cases were initiated based on complaints/reports, with 96 victims, including 82 individuals in public interest information roles (44 male – 53.66%, 38 female – 46.34%).

46 cases (52.87%) were in the High-Tech Crime Prosecutor’s Office, involving 43 victims, including 37 individuals (19 male – 51.35%, 18 female – 48.65%).

By June 30, 2025, actions taken included:

• 10 convictions;

• 3 acquittals;

• 12 dismissals;

• 25 official notes of no prosecution;

• 3 court proceedings;

• 3 international legal assistance proceedings;

• 14 requests for information;

• 17 unidentified perpetrators.

Decisions were reached in 50 cases (57.47%).

Year 2021

From January 1 to December 31, 2021, 87 cases were opened involving 94 victims, 76 of whom were individual journalists (48 male – 63.16%, 28 female – 36.84%).

50 cases (57.47%) were in the High-Tech Crime Prosecutor’s Office, involving 55 victims, including 48 individuals (31 male – 64.58%, 17 female – 35.42%).

Actions taken:

• 12 convictions;

• 1 opportunity principle sanction completed;

• 3 acquittals;

• 20 dismissals;

• 14 official notes;

• 1 ongoing evidence gathering;

• 8 requests for information;

• 3 pre-investigation reviews;

• 25 unidentified perpetrators.

Decisions in 50 cases (57.47%).

Year 2020

From January 1 to December 31, 2020, 60 cases were opened involving 64 victims, 60 of whom were individuals in public interest media (43 male – 71.67%, 17 female – 28.33%).

27 cases (45%) were handled by the High-Tech Crime Prosecutor, concerning 22 victims, including 19 individuals (11 male – 57.89%, 8 female – 42.11%).

Actions included:

• 7 convictions;

• 4 opportunity sanctions completed;

• 1 juvenile received educational measures;

• 2 acquittals;

• 16 dismissals;

• 9 official notes;

• 2 decisions not to prosecute a juvenile;

• 1 court proceeding;

• 1 evidence gathering;

• 4 requests for information;

• 13 unidentified perpetrators.

Decisions made in 41 cases (68.33%).

Year 2019

From January 1 to December 31, 2019, 63 cases were opened involving 72 victims, including 61 individuals in journalism (36 male – 59.02%, 25 female – 40.98%).

33 cases (52.38%) were under the High-Tech Crime Prosecutor’s Office, concerning 37 victims, including 29 individuals (15 male – 51.72%, 14 female – 48.28%).

Actions:

• 19 convictions (1 juvenile);

• 4 opportunity sanctions completed;

• 3 acquittals;

• 15 dismissals (1 with a request for misdemeanor proceedings);

• 11 official notes;

• 1 court proceeding;

• 1 evidence gathering;

• 1 request for information;

• 9 unidentified perpetrators.

Decisions made in 52 cases (82.54%).

Year 2018

From January 1 to December 31, 2018, 56 cases were initiated with 63 victims, including 50 individuals (33 male – 66%, 17 female – 34%).

30 cases (53.57%) were in the High-Tech Crime Prosecutor’s Office, involving 31 victims, 20 of whom were individuals (13 male – 65%, 7 female – 35%).

Actions:

• 6 convictions;

• 3 opportunity sanctions completed;

• 1 indictment rejected;

• 1 acquittal;

• 21 dismissals (1 included a misdemeanor request);

• 10 official notes;

• 1 request for information;

• 13 unidentified perpetrators.

Decisions in 42 cases (75%).

Year 2017

From January 1 to December 31, 2017, 38 cases were opened involving 63 victims, including 55 individuals (22 male – 40%, 33 female – 60%).

18 cases (47.37%) were in the High-Tech Crime Prosecutor’s Office, related to 31 victims, including 27 individuals (8 male – 29.63%, 19 female – 70.37%).

Actions:

• 3 convictions;

• 3 opportunity sanctions completed;

• 1 indictment rejected;

• 1 acquittal;

• 14 dismissals;

• 5 official notes;

• 1 international legal cooperation case;

• 10 unidentified perpetrators.

Decisions in 28 cases (73.68%).

Year 2016

From January 1 to December 31, 2016, 58 cases were opened involving 57 victims, including 49 individuals (36 male – 73.47%, 13 female – 26.53%).

40 cases (68.97%) were in the High-Tech Crime Prosecutor’s Office, involving 37 victims, including 32 individuals (20 male – 62.5%, 12 female – 37.5%).

Actions:

• 4 convictions;

• 5 opportunity sanctions completed;

• 2 indictments rejected;

• 11 dismissals;

• 20 official notes;

• 1 request for information;

• 15 unidentified perpetrators.

Decisions made in 42 cases (72.41%).

Note: In some cases, the injured party is listed as a newsroom or TV editorial team, making it impossible to determine the exact number and gender of the victims.