President and interim Prime Minister commemorate Jan Kuciak and Martina Kusnirova

Today should be a reminder of how important the work of journalists is to democracy, while at the same time it is right to ask whether the changes that people were calling for on the streets five years ago have been achieved, President Zuzana Caputova stated on Tuesday on the occasion of the fifth anniversary of the murders of journalist Jan Kuciak and his fiancee Martina Kusnirova. "As far as a decent Slovakia is concerned, I think that decency is probably the last thing that comes to mind when describing Slovak politics nowadays. Lies attempt to legitimise themselves as alternative opinions, and politicians often speak without thinking. Nevertheless, we must never give up on decency," said Caputova. In this vein, the President called on people not to forget what they were demanding in the protests five years ago; for instance, in the next general election. According to Caputova, investigations into serious crime, corruption and abuses of power are on the right track. "A number of cases are being investigated, and some have already been completed. This is thanks to the bravery of many investigators, prosecutors and judges," she said. The president paid homage to the murdered couple on the same day on SNP Square in Bratislava. Free and independent media are one of the pillars of democracy; it's unacceptable in a democratic society for government officials to verbally attack journalists who point out their misconduct, interim Prime Minister Eduard Heger (OLANO) said on Monday following a meeting with representatives of journalistic organisations that took part in the international Media Freedom 2023 conference in Bratislava.In connection with the fifth anniversary of the murders of investigative journalist Jan Kuciak and his fiancée Martina Kusnirova, the premier discussed with representatives of international journalistic organisations the measures that Slovakia is taking to ensure the free and safe work of journalists. The foreign mission praised the shift in media legislation.