OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Media Freedom Representative mark one year since Ján Kuciak’s murder in Slovakia, call for justice and end to impunity

VIENNA, 20 February 2019 – OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Slovak Foreign and European Affairs Minister Miroslav Lajčák and the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Harlem Désir today marked the shocking murder of Slovak investigative journalist Ján Kuciak and his fiancée Martina Kušnírová one year ago.

Ján Kuciak was a journalist known for his investigative reporting into cases of suspected fraud in Slovakia, as well as for his work with the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) and its outlet, Aktuality.sk. He was also a partner of the Office of the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, and was involved in a number of the OSCE’s events. Before his murder, Kuciak filed two complaints with the Prosecutor’s office after receiving several threats. He was the first journalist murdered in relation to his work in Slovakia. Important progress in the investigation of this heinous crime was achieved. Four people were arrested and charged for the murders of Kuciak and his fiancée in September 2018. However, one year later, full justice still has not been brought.

Reiterating the Slovak Chairmanship’s commitment on working towards ensuring the better protection of journalists, Chairperson-in-Office Lajčák stressed that “freedom of expression and freedom of the media are fundamental commitments of OSCE participating States and their value to democracy should not be questioned. Journalists should not have to fear for their lives when fulfilling their work. Therefore, governments must ensure a safe and enabling environment for journalists and media representatives at all times.”

Désir said: “The free media are a cornerstone of democracy. It is unacceptable that journalists can be threatened or killed for doing their work. There must be no impunity for killing journalists. I welcome the first result of the investigation, but I call on the authorities to deploy all necessary means with the greatest determination, in order to bring to justice all those responsible for this horrendous crime, including the mastermind.”

The Chairperson-in-Office and 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.”

“On the first anniversary of Kuciak’s death, my heart goes out to his family and colleagues, and to those of his partner. I send them my deepest  sympathy,” said Désir.

Lajčák added: “To honour their memory, safety of journalists should be our number one concern, not just in Slovakia, but in the whole OSCE area.”

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.