Attacks on journalists because of their work are absolutely unacceptable, President Zuzana Čaputová stressed on Monday on her social network and expressed her support for Marta Jančkárová, a journalist at the public broadcaster RTVS, who has faced verbal attacks and threats. The head of state condemned the actions of Smer-SD representatives, aimed not only at a specific editor but also at journalists as such. "When a politician announces that he'll go after them, he must know that he's making people into targets, and vulgar threats and intimidation will follow from the internet crowd. But what the attacking politicians don't know is whether there will be someone in this crowd who'll carry out his threat and kill somebody. Because that's what the threats are leading to," she pointed out. Caputova urged not to give in to evil and hatred. "One thing is clear, whoever doesn't keep himself within the bounds of decent politics, isn't worthy of managing this country," stated the president. Interim Prime Minister Eduard Heger stated that he'll always stand on the side of media freedom and decent journalists. "Along with his fellow party members, Robert Fico held a press conference in front of the Slovak Radio building, where he lied again and publicly ridiculed and threatened its particular host as well as the management for doing their jobs," said Heger. He added that Fico's mental world is "hatred, vengeance, dictatorship, an effort to usurp power and disrespect towards freedom". Several political parties have also condemned the threats made against the RTVS journalist. The parliamentary culture and media committee is set to deal with verbal attacks against journalists and legislative options for the protection of media workers on Tuesday (February 28), TASR learnt on Monday. The extraordinary meeting is being convened by its head Kristian Cekovsky (OLANO). "The meeting will be attended by Justice Minister Viliam Karas, Culture Ministry State Secretary Radoslav Kutas, Police Corps President Stefan Hamran, RTVS director Lubos Machaj and RTVS news section head Anna Samelova," reported Cekovsky.
Source: TASR
