The state-owned company Hrvatske šume d.o.o. (Croatian Forests Ltd.) made it to the shortlist for the prestigious 2025 European SLAPP Competition in the “Corporate Bully of the Year” category. The competition is traditionally organized by the international coalition CASE, which is committed to supporting and standing in solidarity with individuals facing lawsuits, persecution, or any form of harassment for speaking out in the public interest.
In 2021, Croatian Forests filed three separate criminal defamation lawsuits against Vesna Grgić, leader of the Green Squad (Zeleni odred), due to her years-long public criticism of numerous irregularities and illegalities in forest management across Croatia. These included planned deforestation through excessive logging, manipulation of official documents, and more.
Alongside Renowned Corporate Bullies
In 2024, as Vesna Grgić’s trial officially began at the Criminal Court in Zagreb, international collaboration between the Green Squad and various European and global movements, coalitions, and organizations brought the Croatian Forests case to the attention of CASE.
After months of communication, submission of all relevant documentation, and numerous clarifications, CASE officially classified all three lawsuits as SLAPPs (Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation). On May 23, 2024, they published their decision on their website in an article titled: “Officially Verified SLAPP: McLibel Strikes Again – Croatian State-Owned Company Sues Forest Activist.”
CASE Takes It a Step Further
Beyond verifying and publishing SLAPP cases, CASE also organizes the annual European SLAPP Awards in several categories: Corporate Bully of the Year, Politician of the Year, Farcical Threat of the Year, International Bully of the Year, and SLAPP Addict of the Year. The event is promoted with the following introduction:
“Welcome to the 2025 European SLAPP Awards, where we shine a spotlight on Europe’s biggest legal bullies! This awards ceremony is a chance to ‘honor’ politicians, corporations, and institutions that go to great lengths to silence their critics through Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPP). From fossil fuel giants suing climate activists to mayors filing defamation claims against journalists, these nominees have worked tirelessly to crush free speech and intimidate those brave enough to speak truth to power. Tonight, we celebrate their ‘accomplishments’! Who will take home the grand prize for the most shameless assault on democracy?”
International Jury
This year’s jury, consisting of five Members of the European Parliament from Slovakia, Germany, Malta, Italy, and France, unanimously agreed that the lawsuits brought by Croatian Forests against the Green Squad’s leader deserved a spot on the shortlist for “Corporate Bully of the Year.”
Alongside Polish and Romanian corporations, the jury gave the following reasoning for nominating the Croatian candidate:
“Croatian Forests Ltd., the company managing state-owned forests in Croatia, filed three private criminal defamation lawsuits against environmental activist Vesna Grgić, head of the Green Squad. The lawsuits stem from her public statements in media, social media posts, and a YouTube video in which Grgić criticizes excessive and destructive logging—sometimes within Natura 2000 protected areas—and raises serious allegations of company misconduct. While the company is not seeking damages, it demands a fine tied to the Croatian average daily income, potentially reaching €57,000, excluding legal and attorney costs.”
“Silver with a Golden Shine”
Although Croatian Forests Ltd. didn’t win the shameful title of Corporate Bully of the Year, just being named among such “elite” European corporate bullies felt like a victory for all activists, supporters, and volunteers in the Green Squad.
At the public SLAPP Awards ceremony held on April 8, 2025, in Brussels, the “winner” was announced as Clean Tech International from Romania. Congratulations!
You can watch the full announcement and “award ceremony” in all categories HERE.
