A Slovak investigative journalist and his fiancée were found shot dead Monday, the 26th of February 2018. It’s the first time a reporter has been murdered in the country, according to police.

 

Jan Kuciak, 27, reported on tax evasion and fraud among Slovak businesses, including people connected to the Slovak governing party, Smer.
The journalist for news website Aktuality.sk and his fiancée Martina Kušnírová were found with bullet wounds to the chest and head respectively, said the International Press Institute (IPI).
The couple was shot at Kuciak’s apartment in Velka Maca, western Slovakia, some time between Thursday and Sunday, according to police. The head of the Slovak Police, Tibor Gaspar, said it was “likely” the murder was connected to Kuciak’s work as an investigative journalist.
Kuciak reported on tax fraud connected to luxury real estate businesses, sometimes involving politicians from the ruling party.
According to local media, Kuciak received threats from Slovak businessmen about his investigations and reported these to the police last autumn, the IPI said in a statement.
Slovakia is one of the most corrupt countries in Europa and has been struggling for decades to establish a transparent, functioning democracy, but this kind of violence is rare. Let’s hope this kind of assassinations doesn’t become a trend in his otherwise peaceful nation.
(source: CNN)
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