Human Rights Watch/Helsinki and Lawyers Committee for Human Rights Demand that the Croatian Government Cease Investigating Ivan

In a letter sent today to President Franjo Tudjman, Prime Minister Zlatko Matesa, and Public Prosecutor Marjan Hranjski, Human Rights Watch/Helsinki and the Lawyers Committee for Human Rights demanded that the government of the Republic of Croatia cease its criminal investigation of Ivan Zvonimir Cicak, president of the Croatian Helsinki Committee, in what appears to be yet another attempt to silence this vocal critic of official Croatian policy. Mr. Cicak is being investigated on suspicion of "disseminating false information," in violation of article 191 of the Croatian Criminal Code.