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The Killing of a Journalist

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Forum on European Culture

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Slovakia
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The Killing of a Journalist tells the story of the 2018 murders of OCCRP’s Slovak colleague Ján Kuciak and his fiancée, Martina Kušnírová. An investigative journalist who used leaked police files from the murder investigation to uncover vast corruption at the highest levels of Slovak society.

In 2018, Slovakia was rated amongst the most corrupt countries in the EU. In the same year, the problem of corruption exploded in the eyes of the public when an investigative reporter, Jan Kuciak, and his fiancée were brutally murdered in their home. Kuciak had frightened the political elite by investigating the links between them and organized crime. It sparked national demonstrations and ultimately brought down the government.

During this event we will discuss the documentary and talk about the corruption in Slovakia, concerning the past, present and future of the country that is part of the European Union. How is it that journalists are not safe within the European Union, and how is it possible that such misconduct can happen in our common space?

This programme exists of a conversation about the film The Killing of a journalist. If you want to watch the film: the screenings are Saturday, June 3 on 14:15 and 17:30.

About the speakers

Jasmijn de Zeeuw works as legal advisor and researcher at Free Press Unlimited for the project ‘A Safer World for the Truth’. A Safer World for the Truth works towards the pursuit of justice for crimes committed against journalists through cold case investigations, public advocacy and legal action. In February 2023, Jasmijn participated in an international advocacy mission to Slovakia on the occasion of the five-year anniversary of the murder of Ján Kuciak and Martina Kušnírová.

Tineke Strik is a member of the European Parliament. In the European Parliament, Tineke focuses on the Rule of Law and Justice. She is committed to ensuring the rule of law in particular, Poland and Hungary, where autocrats are increasingly eroding it. She is also contributing to the subject of foreign affairs, that deals with European foreign and security policy, including monitoring the EU’s foreign service and assessing political agreements with countries outside the union.

Paul Radu is an investigative journalist based in Bucharest, Romania. He is the director of the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project, for which he and cofounder Drew Sullivan received the Special Award by the European Press Prize. He is also one of the cofounders of the Romanian Center for Investigative Journalism. He investigates transnational crime in Eastern Europe. He has received multiple international awards for his journalism.

About the OCCRP

OCCRP exposes and explains the relationship between money and power and serves as a catalyst that arms others with the information needed to drive positive change. As investigative journalists, they expose crime and corruption at the highest levels. Using these revelations, advocates can press for policy reform and package information for law enforcement, which has the authority to act on evidence and deliver justice. Policymakers can point to investigative findings to pass legislation and advance reforms. Citizens who read our work get the information they need to act and organize on their own behalf.

Speakers

Paul RaduJournalist
Jasmijn de ZeeuwLegal advisor & researcher Free Press Unlimited
Tineke StrikLid van het Europees Parlement (GroenLinks)