Slovakia’s ruling majority led by Prime Minister Robert Fico has attacked journalists, restricted access to information and questioned the independence of the public media, an international press freedom group.
In the new state-run platform for press freedom, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) will hold Slovakia responsible for respecting its international commitments.
Created by the former culture minister, Slovakia’s new Platform for the promotion of press freedom and safety of journalists held its first session on 8 November. Although the consultative body dedicated its kick-off meeting mostly to procedural issues, it adopted a statement emphasizing “the need to achieve full justice in the case of assassination of journalist Jan Kuciak and his fiancée Martina Kusnirova as an important precondition for improving safety of journalists and media freedom in Slovakia.”
The declaration also called for “strengthening the guarantees of independence of [the public broadcaster] RTVS based on, among others, the 2022 rule of law report of the European Commission.”
In the Jan Kuciak case, a new appeal decision is due in the upcoming months after the first-instance court acquitted for the second time Marian Kocner, the businessman prosecuted for ordering the 2018 murder.
In addition to impunity, press freedom in Slovakia has been challenged – before and after the September election – by current ruling parties’ attempts to undermine independent reporting.
“RSF will use the platform to hold Slovakia accountable for respecting its commitments within the international framework of rule of law. The statement approved by the members of the body provides a good starting point for a serious discussion towards the implementation of the European standards of press freedom. It would be reassuring if the upcoming government program was drafted in the same spirit. In any case, at a time when media freedom in Slovakia faces strong political headwinds again, our organization will use all means, including a dialogue with the national authorities, to defend trustworthy journalism.”
