Bangladesh, Dec. 13 -- A growing wave of legal and administrative complaints targeting Slovenias investigative newsroom Oštro is raising serious concerns about press freedom, democratic accountability, and the misuse of data-protection laws by public officials. What began as a routine journalistic inquiry into asset transparency has escalated into a coordinated campaign of pressure involving mayors, cabinet ministers, prosecutors, and the countrys data-protection authority-an effort critics warn closely resembles classic SLAPP tactics designed to silence watchdog journalism.

Oštro, a non-profit investigative outlet known for scrutinizing corruption and conflicts of interest, has found itself under attack not because of inaccura...