The murder of young Slovak journalist Jan Kutsiak and his partner at home is "probably linked to his journalistic work," the Slovak police chief said, referring to the heinous crime that is shaking the small Central European country and raising concerns. of the world in terms of the extent of corruption.
The 27-year-old journalist, who distinguished himself in investigative journalism by revealing cases of corruption and rusfetology, was found dead with his peer Martina Kushnirova at his home in Velka Matsa, 65km from Bratislava on Sunday. Tibor Gaspar police in a press conference given yesterday.
Police went to the journalist's home on Sunday when she was notified by Kusnirova's mother, who could not be reached for comment. The case will be investigated by the police as a double homicide, the police chief added, while clarifying that the crime was committed at some point between Thursday and Sunday.
Kutsiak worked for the Slovak news site Aktuality.sk, where he had uncovered cases of tax fraud committed by businessmen linked to the ruling party in Slovakia, as well as other politicians.
There are "reasonable suspicions" that his death is linked to his current journalistic investigation, the German-based publishing group Axel Springer announced immediately after the announcement of his murder, condemning the "brutal murder" of his journalist, while Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has expressed its disgust.
"If this crime is an attempt to prevent an independent publisher such as Ringier Axel Springer Slovakia from revealing any violations, we will use it as an opportunity to be even more conscientious and consistent in fulfilling our journalistic mission," the group said in a statement. Ringier Axel Springer, to whom Aktuality.sk belongs.
The group said in a statement that it would support the Slovak authorities in their efforts to identify the killers.
Fourteen Slovak media executives have called on the country's authorities to shed light on the case and help protect the work of journalists.
The 27-year-old worked for Aktuality.sk for three years. His latest post on Aktuality.sk on February 9 raised suspicions of tax fraud in the dealings of companies linked to businessman Marian Kochner in connection with a luxury apartment complex in Bratislava, which was at the center of a political scandal last year.
So far no one was able to send in the perfect solution, which is not strange.
The case surrounding the apartment complex sparked protests last year demanding the resignation of Interior Minister Robert Kalinak over his business dealings with real estate agent Landislav Basternak, who is being investigated for possible tax fraud. Both denied any wrongdoing.
Tom Nicholson, a journalist who has been researching Bratislava for years, told Dennik N news website that he spoke to Kutsiak a week ago about a case they were both investigating in connection with allegations of abuse. from the Italian EU funds mafia in Slovakia.
"If the death of the investigative journalism reporter is proven to be linked to his journalistic work, it will be an unprecedented attack on freedom of speech and democracy in Slovakia," said Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico.
The prime minister convened an emergency meeting with Kalinak, the attorney general, the police chief and the head of the state intelligence service, and announced a one-million-euro fee to anyone who provided information that would help authorities identify those responsible for the murder.
"Slovakia cannot be a country where journalists are being murdered," said Justice Minister Lucia Zitnanska.
The Slovak economy has flourished and its standard of living has risen sharply since joining the EU in 2004, but many Slovaks say their country has not yet managed to defend the rule of law, especially with regard to bribery.
Slovakia is currently ranked 17th in the world in 2017 for the freedom of the press of Reporters Without Borders, having lost five places compared to the previous year. The organization also said on its website that it was the fifth case of the murder of a journalist or journalists facing the EU in the last decade.
The assassination of Kutsiak just months after October 16 last year by 53-year-old Maltese journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia sparked disgust among EU officials. level aimed at politicians of all factions.
"I am shocked by the horrific news of the assassination of Jan Kuciak and his fiancé. I condemn this heinous act. "Murder or intimidation of journalists has no place in Europe or in democracy," European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said in a Twitter message.
"Shocked by the murder of a journalist in the EU, no democracy can survive without freedom of the press, which is why journalists must be respected and protected," Commission Vice President Frans Timmermans said in a Twitter message. "Justice must be done."
"The EU cannot accept the murder of a journalist because he did his job," European Parliament President Antonio Tagiani wrote in a Twitter message.
"We cannot accept a new reality in which journalists are regularly the target of attacks because of their research work," said Arlem Desiré, a spokesman for the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).
Kutsiak was shot in the chest and his partner was shot in the head, according to the Slovak police chief.