On World Press Freedom Day, OSCE Media Freedom Representative pays respects to murdered journalists during visit to Bratislava

BRATISLAVA, 3 May 2019 – On the occasion of World Press Freedom Day the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, visited Bratislava to pay tribute to the investigative journalist, Ján Kuciak, and his fiancée Martina Kušnírová, who were killed in February 2018.

During his visit, Désir visited the editorial offices of Aktuality.sk, where Ján Kuciak worked, and met with the outlet’s deputy chief editor, Jan Petrovič, and the editorial team. He also met with several journalists to discuss media freedom in Slovakia and the OSCE region.

“On World Press Freedom Day, I came to pay tribute to Ján Kuciak and to all journalists who were killed or attacked for doing their work. I remember Daphne Caruana Galizia, Pavel Sheremet, Lyra McKee, among many other journalists killed in recent years. Jan has become, like all of them, a symbol of the dangers faced by investigative journalists. Journalists who investigate crime and corruption are essential for providing the checks and balances that ensure the functioning of our democracies. The quality of our democracies depends on the quality of our information, and on the existence of pluralistic and independent media. It is our responsibility to ensure that all journalists can work in a safe environment and that those who attack journalists are identified and face the full brunt of the law. There must be no impunity,” said Désir.

The Representative recalled the OSCE Ministerial Council Decision on Safety of Journalists, adopted last December in Milan, which calls on participating States to “take effective measures to end impunity for crimes committed against journalists, by ensuring accountability as a key element in preventing future attacks.”

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.

Link to previous statements:

https://www.osce.org/chairmanship/411947

https://www.osce.org/representative-on-freedom-of-media/397850

https://www.osce.org/representative-on-freedom-of-media/374116

https://www.osce.org/representative-on-freedom-of-media/373699