European Federation of Journalists

EFJ-IFJ support Slovak journalists’ call for action in Ján Kuciak murder investigation

Slovak journalists are demanding for action in the murder investigation of journalist Ján Kuciak and his fiancee Martina Kušnírova, which after six months has not given any results. In an open letter, signed by over 300 Slovak colleagues, journalists call for not forgetting the murder and ensuring the independent investigation.

European and International Federations of Journalists stand in support with their Slovak colleagues in asking the state authorities to ensure the continuation of a thorough and effective investigation without further delays.

Slovak journalists are raising concerns on the actual independence of the current investigation of the murder, concerning the Kuciak’s own findings on mafia connections reaching to the top levels of the government in Slovakia. The main questions who and why murdered the journalist still have no answer from the authorities.

Ján Kuciak and Martina Kušnírová were shot dead in February 2018 in their home in Veľká Mača, Slovakia.  Kuciak worked as a reporter for a news website, investigating tax frauds and corruption. The journalist’s last investigation was uncovering ties between Slovak government officials and an Italian mafia syndicate, who were supposedly collaborating to commit fraud of EU subsidy funds, as well as a separate story on Eastern European drug cartels. The Slovak state prosecutor said, that the investigation on corruption might have been the main reason of Kuciak’s murder.

Picture credit: