OSCE Representative concerned about criminal libel charges against journalist in Slovakia

VIENNA, 8 September 2014 –OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović today said that the criminal libel charges filed against journalist Dušan Karolyi in Slovakia are worrying and pose a threat to free media.

“Applying criminal charges for libel stifles public debate and can be used to protect public officials from criticism. In effect, it poses a threat to free media,” Mijatović said.

In August 2013, Karolyi published a story in the weekly magazine Trend about a court case against a former police employee. The article mentioned the alleged abuses of power by the former police officer, without using his full name, and criticized the District Court for delaying the lawsuit. As a result of the article, the former police employee filed charges for libel against an unknown perpetrator. If convicted, Karolyi faces up to five years in prison for libel.

In June this year, the Bratislava II District Court ordered the daily newspaper Nový Čas to publish an apology to one of the plaintiffs after members of the Slovak judiciary sued the newspaper for defamation. The Representative also raised this defamation case with the authorities in Slovakia (see www.osce.org/fom/101240).

Ever since the Office of the Representative on Freedom of the Media was established, its Representatives have been calling for defamation to be decriminalized throughout the OSCE region.

The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media observes media developments in all 57 OSCE participating States. She 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.