ZAGREB, January 27, 2017 – Commenting for the N1 broadcaster on the case of fake photographs designed to discredit Deputy Prime Minister Tomislav Tolušić, President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović said on Saturday that relevant state services should determine the source of the fake photos as well as who had made them and for what purpose.
Earlier this week, the Nacional weekly ran an article under the headline “A hooker and cocaine in professional set-up against Tomislav Tolušić”. The article was accompanied by fake photos aimed at discrediting the minister. The weekly said that the photos were fake, as established also by the Security-Intelligence Agency (SOA).
Nacional’s editor-in-chief, who gave a deposition to the Office for the Suppression of Corruption and Organised Crime (USKOK) in relation to this case, would not reveal the source of the fake photos.
“The question about the photographs, which reportedly exist, is if abuse of narcotics occurred. That is a legitimate question, but from what I hear, Minister Tolušić himself has said that he will gladly answer any question and have himself tested for drugs,” the president said in an interview with N1.
Underlining the importance of privacy, she said: “I simply don’t want us, with all the problems we have, to stoop so low as to try to discredit one another in the dirtiest way possible.”
Asked if in her opinion, national security had been jeopardised in this case, Grabar-Kitarović said that it all depended on who wanted the photos to be made public and for what purpose.
“This is really a question for the relevant state services. Now that the affair has happened, it should be determined where the photographs came from, who did it and why. I would not rule out hybrid activity from a neighbouring or other country, aimed at destabilising the government and the country.”
“One also cannot rule out intra-party conflicts or conflicts between criminal clans, but if that is the case, it also needs to be dealt with by law enforcement agencies,” the president said.
More news on the fake photos affair can be found in the Politics section.
