The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has joined the two-week boycott of the HRT public broadcaster, launched by NGOs in a show of support for journalists and media outlets the broadcaster sued, the SDP said in a press release Sunday.

The SDP will not appear on or give statements to HRT, it said.

Thirty civil society organisations earlier this months said they would boycott the HRT until March 2, when journalists scheduled a protest over the lawsuits.

They said in a letter that the purpose of their boycott is to draw attention to the absurdity of the situation in which a public broadcasting service is suing media outlets and journalists over their reporting on how public money is being spent, thus undermining freedom of the press in Croatia through intimidation and pressure.

The HRT has so far filed at least 36 lawsuits against media outlets and journalists, seeking HRK 2.3 million (EUR 311,000) in damages.

Rather than with lawsuits and pressure, a public media service should protect its reputation and independence by supporting journalists, improving the quality of its program and management, and with other activities aimed at protecting and not undermining freedom of the press, the letter said.

It added that the official position of the European Federation of Journalists is that the HRT is the worst public service in Europe in terms of independence, adding that filing lawsuits is a problematic way of spending taxpayers’ money and an unprecedented practice of a public broadcaster in Europe.