Statement by the AEJ Slovak Section about the murder of investigative journalist Jan Kuciak and his fiancee
The Slovak Section of the Association of European Journalists (AEJ) is deeply perturbed by the cold-blooded murder of journalist Jan Kuciak and his fiancee in their house in the town of Velka Maca, east of Bratislava. This heinous crime was committed while Kuciak was pursuing investigative work to expose crimes of persons linked not only to the underworld but also to the political elite of the country. The AEJ Slovak Section demands that the Slovak police authorities fully and thoroughly investigate these murders and bring the perpetrators to justice before the courts.
In our perception this murder was an attack on the basic principle of a lawful democratic state and on freedom of speech and the press, which are among the constitutional rights of Slovak citizens. This is clearly also a dire consequence of the climate engendered by systematic long-term aggressive verbal attacks on journalists by various leading state representatives. At the same time, we
are asking precisely how Slovakia protects those who put themselves at risk when uncovering anti-social activities or wrongdoing?
We must also recall two other cases of Slovak journalists who have disappeared without explanation and are still missing – reporter Palo Rypal since 2008 and economic journalist Miroslav Pejko since 2015. They were both also active in the media in investigative journalism. We urgently request that the criminal authorities inform the public about the current status of investigations
into these murders, and the progress made in the search for the missingjournalists.
Tibor Macak, Secretary General AEJ Int.,
Juraj Alner, Founder AEJ, Slovak section and Honorary Sec. Gen. AEJ Int.
Julius Lorincz, former head of AEJ, Slovak section,
Ivan Brada, member of AEJ, Slovak section, Investigative journalist,
John Boyd, member of AEJ Slovak section.
Bratislava, 26.2.2018