The investigating court number 6 of Tarragona has admitted for processing the lawsuit filed by the company Griñó Ecològic against the promoters of the documentary Insostenible, rere la brossa. The filmmakers and activists must declare as investigated next June.
The audiovisual piece's responsible parties appeared yesterday at a press conference to denounce that the lawsuit constitutes a legal strategy designed to silence public participation. They accuse the company of filling the document with falsehoods with the objective of diverting attention from its own judicial problems.
Defense Denounces Intimidation and Diversion of Focus
Rafa Marrasé, director of Porta Enrere, assured that the business initiative seeks to blame the documentarians for all the company's ills. Marrasé affirmed that they will not be intimidated nor will they stop doing their work of journalistic and social investigation.
"Griñó has started a process to blame us for all his ills" - Rafa Marrasé, director of Porta Enrere
Christophe Sion, director of Hokusai Films and of the documentary, explained that the lawsuit has managed to change the public debate. Instead of discussing the substance of the environmental problem, the focus has shifted towards those who have investigated the case.
Sion underlined that this situation sends a clear message about the risks of doing investigative journalism. The personal and legal cost of these works can turn out to be prohibitive for groups without large resources.
Parallel investigations and prior arrests
As this case against the film's authors progresses, the company Griñó Ecològic faces its own legal difficulties. Investigating court number 4 of Tarragona is investigating the company for an alleged environmental crime and document forgery.
The judicial tension has recent precedents. In January 2025, the Guàrdia Civil arrested fifteen people accused of belonging to an international criminal organization dedicated to the illicit trafficking of urban waste. This police operation occurred a year and a half after the documentary was broadcast.
Xavier Jiménez, president of Gepec-EdC, described the company's action as an attempt to dismantle people who carry out free and independent work. He flatly rejected the accusation of being a criminal organization and recalled that in 2005 they were declared of public utility by the central government.
"It is to dismantle people who do free and independent work from problematic and annoying situations" - Xavier Jiménez, president of Gepec-EdC
Gerard Jara, president of the Jara Barceló Foundation, criticized the accusation of conflict of interest included in the lawsuit. He assured that he did not know the company Griñó until the documentary was made.
Griñó Ecològic issued a statement rejecting the accusations made at the press conference. The company defends the transparency of its operations and considers itself the victim of an organized smear campaign aimed at damaging its reputation with the authorities.