FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION AND THE RIGHT TO COMPENSATION FOR DAMAGE - RECENT CASE-LAW OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL COURT OF THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA

U radu se daje pregled prakse hrvatskoga Ustavnog suda koja se odnosi na zaštitu prava na slobodu izražavanja zajamčenoga člankom 38. Ustava, odnosno čl. 10. Konvencije za zaštitu ljudskih prava i temeljnih sloboda. Međutim, to pravo nije apsolutno, budući da njegovim ostvarivanjem može doći do povrede prava drugih na zaštitu njihove privatnosti (osobnosti, časti, ugleda, dostojanstva) zajamčenih člankom 35. Ustava, odnosno čl. 8. Konvencije za zaštitu ljudskih prava. Stoga u ocjeni kojem od tih dvaju, po naravi stvari, suprotstavljenih prava u pojedinom slučaju treba dati prednost, Ustavni sud provodi test razmjernosti propisan čl. 16. Ustava. Polazeći od činjenice da se načini komunikacije i izvješćivanja javnosti sve brže mijenjaju i poprimaju nove oblike, Ustavni sud kontinuirano nadograđuje praksu povezanu s čl. 38. Ustava, odnosno čl. 10. Konvencije koja se odnosi na slobodu mišljenja i izražavanja, uključujući dakako i slobodu medija.This paper provides an overview of the case-law of the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Croatia on the protection of the right to freedom of expression guaranteed in Article 38 of the Croatian Constitution and Article 10 of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. However, this right is not absolute as its exercise can violate the privacy rights of others (personality, reputation, honour, dignity) guaranteed in Article 35 of the Croatian Constitution and Article 8 of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights. Therefore, in establishing the precedence to be awarded in each individual case to these two, by nature of things opposed, rights, applies the principle of proportionality in Article 16 of the Croatian Constitution. Given that ways and means of communication and informing the public change so fast and take new forms, the Constitutional Court has been continuously upgrading its case-law related to Article 38 of the Constitution and Article 10 of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights on freedom of thought and expression, including the freedom of media