Slovak journalist Kristína Kövešová physically attacked, injured on assignment
New York, November 1, 2024—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Slovak authorities to swiftly complete their investigation into Wednesday’s physical attack by unknown individuals that injured Kristína Kövešová, a broadcast journalist with private station TV Markíza, while she was on assignment in Trnava, western Slovakia. “It is a welcome development that Slovak authorities responded…
Slovak PM Fico attacks journalists as ‘possessed by the devil’
New York, October 11, 2024—The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns Tuesday’s denigrating comments by Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, in which he called reporters “bloodthirsty bastards” who are “possessed by the devil,” and calls on Slovak authorities to ensure that journalists can do their jobs without fear of reprisal. “We are alarmed by Prime Minister…
CPJ, partners alarmed after Slovak Prime Minister sues journalist, publisher
The Committee to Protect Journalists joined seven partner organizations in a statement on Friday, October 4, 2024, condemning legal action taken by Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico against Peter Bárdy, the editor-in-chief of the news website Aktuality and the outlet’s publisher, Ringier Slovak Media. The statement called on the court to dismiss the case. The…
Hostile climate intensifies for Slovak press after PM Fico shooting
The day after Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico was shot on May 15, the heads of 27 news outlets condemned the attack and called on politicians not to further divide society by looking for culprits. “Just like after the murder of our colleague Ján Kuciak and his fiancée Martina Kušnírová, we are once again at…
CPJ, others call on Slovakia’s Parliament to reject public broadcasting bill
Berlin, June 10, 2024—The Committee to Protect Journalists joined seven international press freedom organizations in urging Slovak members of parliament on Monday to reject the proposed public service broadcasting bill scheduled for parliamentary review next week. The statement says that despite modifications, the bill still allows the government to politicize the public broadcaster, which would…
CPJ, others call on Slovakia to withdraw repressive media bill
The Committee to Protect Journalists and seven other international press freedom organizations have called on Slovakian authorities to immediately withdraw a draft law which would effectively end the public broadcaster’s independence. The Slovak Television and Radio bill would dissolve the state-owned Radio and Television of Slovakia (RTVS) and replace it with a new, politically controlled…
CPJ and partners call on Slovakia to ensure justice for the murder of journalist Ján Kuciak
Berlin, February 21, 2024—On the sixth anniversary of the brutal killing of Slovak investigative reporter Ján Kuciak and his fiancée Martina Kušnírová on Wednesday, the Committee to Protect Journalists and seven other international press freedom organizations renewed their call for justice and an end to the cycle of impunity in Slovakia. Despite the hitmen and…
CPJ deeply disappointed by retrial verdict for murder of Slovak journalist Ján Kuciak
Berlin, May 19, 2023 —The Committee to Protect Journalists has called for Slovak authorities to continue seeking justice for the 2018 murder of Slovak journalist Ján Kuciak and his fiancée, Martina Kušnírová, following Friday’s decision by a criminal court to acquit businessperson Marián Kočner, the suspected mastermind of the killing. The court convicted Alena Zsuzsová,…
Slovak radio host Marta Jančkárová receives death threats following bias allegation
Berlin, March 2, 2023 — Slovak authorities should follow through on pledges to ensure the safety of radio host Marta Jančkárová and her family and thoroughly investigate death threats made against them as a result of her work, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday. Jančkárová, who hosts the weekly debate show Sobotné Dialógy (Saturday…
Slovakia press freedom delegation demands justice for Ján Kuciak
The Committee to Protect Journalists joined a delegation in Slovakia on Tuesday marking the fifth anniversary of the murder of Slovak investigative journalist, Ján Kuciak. The organizations renewed calls for full justice for Kuciak and his fiancée, Martina Kušnírová who were both killed five years ago today, on 21 February 2018, and called on the…