I have written to you on December 3 and 22, 2008, about Croatia’s democratic record, which is marred by the abuse of slander or libel law to thwart political opponents. On December 4, 2008, I have also written to you about my particular case, as well as pointed out the connection between legal charges brought against me and the activities of the Istrian golf lobby, many actors of which are represented by the same law firm in Istria.

Now, your chief of staff, Ms. Katarina Fuček, has written to me on December 8, 2008, that she has forwarded my letters to the minister of the interior, Mr. Tomislav Karamarko, but I have not yet heard from him after so many months. In the meanwhile, I am facing not one but two court cases, one by the mayor of my municipality in Istria, and another by the municipality itself. Both of the cases are for the very same piece of writing on my private website and in English language. In addition, I now have reason to believe that yet another slander or libel case is being prepared against me in my municipality. Unable or unwilling to treat me as their worthy political opponent, which I certainly am, they are systematically persecuting me in a thoroughly undemocratic fashion.

I hope that you and your minister of the interior will consider my letters carefully and respond to them in due course. It is high time to put an end to the political abuse of slander or libel law in this country. Let me add that I am prepared to bring this form of legal abuse to the attention of the European Union’s authorities concerned with Croatia’s progress toward membership. The country’s democratic record is surely at stake.