Slovak and European Press Freedom Groups Renew Push for Justice in Kuciak Murder Case

Media rights organisations across Europe have intensified demands for full accountability in the 2018 assassination of Slovak investigative journalist Ján Kuciak and his partner Martina Kušnírová, as the eighth anniversary of the killings approaches. The call comes amid renewed legal proceedings and concerns about ongoing impunity in the high-profile case.

The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), together with partner organisations in the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) initiative, issued a statement emphasising that justice remains incomplete for the brutal murders, which shocked Slovakia and reverberated throughout Europe. In January 2026, a new retrial commenced in Bratislava for Marian Kočner, a businessman widely accused of orchestrating the crime, after earlier acquittals were overturned. Despite this development, EFJ and MFRR partners argue that accountability has not yet been fully realised for all individuals involved.

Kuciak, a contributor to the investigative outlet Aktuality.sk, was killed alongside Kušnírová in their home near Bratislava on February 21, 2018, following his reporting on alleged corruption and tax fraud involving influential figures, including those connected to Slovak political and business circles. The murders triggered mass protests and a political crisis, leading to the resignation of then-Prime Minister Robert Fico and his cabinet.

The MFRR coalition, which includes national and international press freedom bodies, has underlined that fully addressing the legal and political ramifications of the case is essential not only for the victims’ families but also for press freedom more broadly. Partners urged Slovak authorities to ensure that all those responsible for commissioning, facilitating, or executing the killings are brought to justice, with effective prosecutions and convictions. Such outcomes are seen as critical to breaking the cycle of impunity for crimes against journalists in Slovakia and across the European Union.

The renewed advocacy comes against a backdrop of continuing scrutiny of media freedom conditions in Slovakia, including concerns about political pressures on independent reporting and the legal environment for journalists. Press rights defenders have warned that unresolved high-profile cases such as Kuciak’s murder can undermine public confidence in the rule of law and endanger investigative journalism.

As the anniversary of Kuciak and Kušnírová’s deaths approaches, EFJ and its partners are set to amplify calls for transparent, thorough judicial processes that uphold the principle that attacks on journalists cannot go unpunished and that democratic societies must protect those who hold power to account.

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Slovakia: EFJ and MFRR partners continue to demand full justice for Kuciak assassination

Slovakia: MFRR partners continue to demand full justice for Kuciak assassination