Prime Minister reassures media following murder of journalist

Prime Minister Robert Fico, along with Interior Minister Robert Kaliňák and Police President Tibor Gašpar, met with nineteen editors-in-chief and heads of various media publications on Wednesday morning, reported the SITA news agency. Together, they discussed details of the premeditated double-murder of investigative journalist Ján Kuciak and his fiancée Martina Kušnírová which took place over the weekend. "Prime Minister Robert Fico has repeatedly assured editors-in-chief that the government respects the role of the media in Slovak society and sees the freedom of the press as an irreplaceable part of the democratic establishment, with the Slovak Republic being a democratic country in which the media must feel free," reads a statement from the Government Office. At a press conference on Tuesday, Fico reiterated his offer of a reward of one million euro for anyone who provides relevant information about the murder. "I call on the governing coalition, Opposition and media to stick together. Let's act together and do our utmost to have this heinous crime investigated as soon as possible and to bring the perpetrators before a court of justice," stated Fico. More information follows in today's Topical Issue.