12
Feb
2025
Watch
Honouring the memory of Ján Kuciak and Martina Kušnírová: advancing media freedom, strengthening the rule of law, and protecting journalists across the EU (debate)
Jano Kuciak, that's the message I received seven years ago when the news began to spread like fire among my colleagues that one of them had been the victim of a murder. I know exactly what I was doing back then. I know exactly where I was then. Since then, a lot has happened in our country, events that will last for decades. But the important thing today is that John is not here today, and his fiancée Martin is not here either. He's not here because Jano did his job well, exposing abuse of power, injustice, corruption. This is ridiculous and infinitely unfair. I always try to find out how we can learn from all of this. Thanks to one young couple, we found out that in Slovakia there is a very vibrant community of people who care about public affairs, who can freeze in the squares and know that truth and justice are the basis on which not only Slovakia must function. They know that we are together in the Union and that the Union will not let us down if we stand by it. Being a journalist is not and should not be pleasant. Journalists are not meant to like and remain silent. They are not fragile creatures who want more than others. But there is a big difference when the work of journalists is unpleasant in a fair discussion, and something completely different is when, after a difficult investigative work, you get a photo of your children on the way to school. When you read threats every day, when strangers shove into you on the street. Please, let's keep this feeling of distinguishing what is and what is not right. Let us keep our sensitivity to the fate of others and let us keep our sense of the truth. John, Martin, Daphne, we will not forget.