The protest rally was organised by a regional trade union, whose leader Bruno Bulic said that the Croatian media sector was ruled by "a political oligarchy paid by power brokers who brought them to power and by tycoons who robbed this nation through PR agencies that finance editors and analysts."

"Journalism must become a calling and not an occupation," Bulic said.

Among the demonstrators was the president of the Croatian Trade Unions' Association (HUS), Ozren Matijasevic, who said that "the moral erosion" of the Croatian society was assuming increasing proportions.

Matijasevic mentioned in that regard recent decisions by the Croatian Parliament and the Constitutional Court, "which did not allow people to clearly express their will at a referendum" on amendments to labour legislation, and "this ordeal the Glas Istre journalists are going through," because of a decision by an arbitration council denying them the constitutional right to strike. He said that the judicial authorities were helping those in power.

"The HUS fully supports the journalists in their struggle to preserve the independent media, because only that way do we have a chance to establish a just and well-organised society, and Croatia, unfortunately, is still miles away from becoming such a society," Matijasevic said.

The protesters were addressed by many journalists from Glas Istre.