Slovak authorities asked to stop hounding Kuciak protest organizers, journalists

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom have written to the Slovak authorities calling on them not to harass or prosecute journalists who support the “For a Decent Slovakia” movement and to drop all criminal proceedings against those who have been organizing protests in the wake of investigative journalist Ján Kuciak’s murder.

Addressed to interior minister Denisa Sakova, National Criminal Agency chief Peter Hraško and the Slovak police, the open letter points out this harassment violates all international standards on the right to protest and the right to seek justice for a journalist’s murder.

The Slovak authorities must guarantee an environment in which press freedom and the right to protest are protected, the letter adds.

Slovakia is ranked 27th out of 180 countries in RSF’s 2018 World Press Freedom Index after falling ten places in the space of a year.

Read the joint letter here