At meeting with Slovak Prime Minister Fico, OSCE media freedom representative calls for full and transparent investigation of journalist’s murder

BRATISLAVA, 2 March 2018 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, travelled today to Bratislava to meet with Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico as well as with Slovak journalists and to pay tribute to the murdered journalist Ján Kuciak and his fiancée.

“The horrendous killing of the young and courageous investigative journalist Kuciak and his fiancée is an appalling attack on investigative journalism and media freedom and a crime against democracy,” Désir said. 

In his meeting with Prime Minister Fico and Interior Minister Robert Kaliňák, the Representative called for a full, transparent and independent investigation.

The Representative met the Prime Minister together with Christophe Deloire, president of Reporters Without Borders, and Flutura Kusari from the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom.

“This is the second murder of an investigative journalist in a few months,” Désir said, recalling the killing of Daphne Caruana Galizia in Malta last year. “Impunity would be a second crime against a free press. Those responsible must be brought to justice, including the masterminds behind this crime,” Désir said. “We cannot accept crimes against investigative journalists to become the new normality in Europe.”

The Representative asked Prime Minister Fico that all means be mobilised, including through international co-operation. "I also call on the OSCE participating States to respond to the request by the Slovak authorities to provide assistance to the investigation," said Désir.

“My thoughts are with the families, friends, loved ones and colleagues of the victims,” Désir said. 

Kuciak was a member of the New Media Network and is known to the Office of the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media as he participated in the conferences Gaining a Digital Edge in 2015 and 2016.

The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media observes media developments in all 57 OSCE participating States. He provides early warning on violations of freedom of expression and media freedom and promotes full compliance with OSCE media freedom commitments. Learn more at www.osce.org/fom, Twitter: @OSCE_RFoM and on www.facebook.com/osce.rfom.