No specific demand was set out during another 'For a Decent Slovakia' rally, which took place in Bratislava on Friday; the previous editions had wanted a snap election or the departure of Police Corps President Tibor Gašpar. The organisers said that this time they wanted to say that politics should be a service to all, not only to those who are connected with the ruling power.
On this occasion approximately 20-25 thousand people expressed, among other things, solidarity with journalists in the public-service broadcaster RTVS, who are criticising the situation at this institution. Teachers at the Slovak Academy of Performing Arts also joined the critics, releasing a joint statement that an atmosphere of fear and uncertainty is currently prevailing in RTVS. The statement reads that the public broadcaster is getting rid of experienced reporters capable of providing a critical point of view and a competent analysis of facts. Moreover, they also called on Jaroslav Rezník, RTVS's director, to consider if he wants to remain in his post.
RTVS held a press conference in which Rezník rejected information presented in the media and statements by a group of journalists accusing RTVS of silencing critics for their opposing views, as well as censorship or "enforcing" people disseminating misinformation. "There is no cleansing, no normalisation threats in RTVS. It belongs to all viewers and listeners," emphasised Rezník. "We assure you that despite the day-to-day attacks, RTVS will continue to freely fulfil its public-service mission. Our goal is to prepare a quality program structure for all viewers and listeners," added Rezník.
Moreover, representatives of Slovak farmers, who went out onto Slovak roads on Friday in their agriculture machinery to fight for their rights and land, also joined the protest. Similar rallies were held in other Slovak cities, including Banská Bystrica, Nitra, Trnava and Prešov.
On Saturday, a commemorative event to pay tribute to the murdered investigative journalist Jan Kuciak and his fiancée Martina Kušnirova, including a Requiem Mass and a concert, was held in the village of Gregorovce, Prešov region. It took place on the day when their wedding was scheduled to take place. The murder of the couple was the trigger for the public protests in Slovakia which resulted in the resignation of prime minister Robert Fico, Interior Minister Robert Kaliňák and Police Corps President Tibor Gašpar.
