European Commissioner for Security Julian King told Members of the European Parliament on Wednesday that the Commission strongly condemns the liquidation of Slovak journalist Ján Kuciak and his fiancée, and that a thorough and independent investigation into this crime is necessary in cooperation with Europol, receiving unanimous approval from MEPs.
King, a British diplomat responsible in the Commission (EC) for combating terrorism and organized crime, participated in a debate at the plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg on the murder of Kuciak and his fiancée Martina Kušnírová, as well as the protection of investigative journalists in the EU and a joint response to the attack on media freedom – “the backbone of our democracies”.
Ján Kuciak
Bullet in the chest, bullet in the head
At the end of February, 27-year-old Kuciak was shot in the chest, and Kušnírová was shot in the head in their family home about sixty kilometers from the capital Bratislava. The Slovak journalist was investigating the connections between political circles and the Italian Calabrian mafia and the misuse of European funds.
“We are deeply shocked by this murder, we strongly condemn it. We have called for a detailed investigation of this crime and we urge the Slovak authorities to cooperate with Europol (…) we also call on them to engage and cooperate with the European Anti-Fraud Office – OLAF – to determine whether it is indeed a case of, among other things, the misuse of European funds with a cross-border dimension,” said Julian King.
‘It is unacceptable that in democratic societies journalists lose their lives because they do their job or live in fear for their own lives and are unable to do their job,’ said Petir.
“These are important issues and we will not stop until they are fully investigated,” added King.
“Slovakia must bring the perpetrators of the crime to justice. That is its obligation,” he added.
According to him, the misuse of European funds has a cross-border dimension and this shows how much we need an anti-corruption agency of the European Union.
He stated that the Commission is fully committed to combating corruption and that it will design a legislative initiative to strengthen whistleblower protection at the European level.
“We agree that whistleblowers play an important role as they are also an important source of information for journalists. Protecting whistleblowers from retaliation is crucial for the protection of investigative journalism,” said the European Commissioner.
Murder of the Maltese journalist
He reminded that this “horrific crime” is unfortunately not an isolated case, alluding to the murder of Maltese journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia in November last year, who was also investigating corruption at the highest levels of government.
“This shows that a collective response from all of us is needed because free media and freedom of expression are the backbone of our democracies (…) As Commission President Jean Claude-Juncker said, there is no place for the intimidation and killing of journalists in Europe and in democracy,” added King.
He sent a loud message to all those who want to undermine our democratic values and silence independent voices in the media: “you will not intimidate us and silence us, we will speak and protect the values that are precious to us”.
“No democracy can survive without a free press. Media freedom and pluralism are the pillars of modern democracy that guarantee free, democratic debate. We must ask questions, as Jan Kuciak did. That is why he was killed,” said King.
He reminded that we face challenges to pluralism every day and that this murder shows that we must remain vigilant in Europe, warned the EC Commissioner. “Journalists are the guardians of democratic society as they constantly question the accountability of those in power”.
‘The European Union must help in the case in Malta, as well as in this investigation because investigative journalists must be allowed to do their job without fear for their lives. Their role is crucial for exposing malfeasance,’ said Šuica.
Agreement
Members from all political groups called for an “independent, international and detailed investigation that would bring the perpetrators of the crime to justice”. They also demanded greater protection for journalists at the national and European levels to ensure the safety of journalists, bloggers, and whistleblowers.
Europol should, the MEPs agreed, be “fully involved in the investigation of the double murder”. MEPs had notes at their workstations in Parliament that read #AllForJan.
Croatian MEP Dubravka Šuica (HDZ/EPP) called the murder of Slovak journalist Ján Kuciak and his partner due to the investigation of the misuse of EU funds in that country “sad and dangerous news”.
“The European Union must help in the case in Malta, as well as in this investigation because investigative journalists must be allowed to do their job without fear for their lives. Their role is crucial for exposing malfeasance,” said Šuica.
For Marijana Petir (EPP), free and independent media are the foundation of democracy and should serve as a mechanism for monitoring power, especially regarding investigative journalism.
“It is unacceptable that in democratic societies journalists lose their lives because they do their job or live in fear for their own lives and are unable to do their job,” said Petir.
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said on Wednesday that he is ready to resign after the murder of the journalist, provided that early elections are not called.
Tonino Picula (SDP/S&D) stated that the brutal murder of the Slovak journalist and his girlfriend once again highlighted the importance of the role of journalists as one of the main instruments for monitoring corrupt ties between politics and crime and protecting the public interest.
“Threats to the journalistic profession must be taken extremely seriously, and crimes must be maximally sanctioned. Attacks on media freedom and journalists are attacks on the very foundations of democratic society,” said Picula.
Ahead of the debate, over 60 civil society organizations from across Europe and the world signed a statement expressing concern that Kuciak’s investigative work may have been uncovered after he submitted a request for access to information. The statement was also signed by the Croatian Journalists’ Association (HND), GONG, and the Human Rights House.
The EP paid tribute to Kuciak and Kušnírová with a minute of silence at the plenary session on February 28.
In Slovakia, a country with about 5.4 million inhabitants, this murder raises the question of corruption in society, which is why a large number of young people protested in June last year, demanding the resignation of ministers from Fico’s social democratic government.
Fico ready to resign
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said on Wednesday that he is ready to resign after the murder of the journalist, provided that early elections are not called.
Fico said he is ready to step down if President Andrej Kiska agrees that Fico’s party Smer chooses a new prime minister, or that the results of the last elections are respected.
Fico has been trying to keep his three-party government in power despite pressures to call early elections due to the political crisis triggered by the murder of Ján Kuciak at the end of February.
Slovak opposition parties submitted a proposal for a vote of no confidence in the Slovak government on Tuesday, which is to be voted on Monday.
