Slovakia: Investigative journalist found shot dead

By Mehmet Yilmaz

BRATISLAVA

A journalist who was investigating corruption in Slovakia and his girlfriend were shot dead at their home, said police on Monday.

The bodies of investigative journalist Jan Kuciak and his girlfriend were found in their home in the southwestern town of Velka Maca last night, police chief Tibor Gaspar told a press conference in the capital Bratislava.

Gaspar said the murders “likely have something to do with Kuciak’s investigative activities,” adding that they seem planned in advance.

According to the Slovakia media, Kuciak, 27, who was working for news website aktuality.sk, had been investigating tax evasion.

“If a journalist were killed due to his work, it would be an attack on freedom of the press and democracy in Slovakia,” said Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico of the murders.

On Twitter, European Parliament President Antonio Tajani made similar comments, calling on authorities to solve the crime as quickly as possible.

By Mehmet Yilmaz

BRATISLAVA

A journalist who was investigating corruption in Slovakia and his girlfriend were shot dead at their home, said police on Monday.

Gaspar said the murders “likely have something to do with Kuciak’s investigative activities,” adding that they seem planned in advance.

According to the Slovakia media, Kuciak, 27, who was working for news website aktuality.sk, had been investigating tax evasion.

“If a journalist were killed due to his work, it would be an attack on freedom of the press and democracy in Slovakia,” said Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico of the murders.

On Twitter, European Parliament President Antonio Tajani made similar comments, calling on authorities to solve the crime as quickly as possible.