Mass protests in Slovakia over journalist’s murder


Thousands of people protested across Slovakia on Friday against their government’s handling of a journalist’s murder and to demand an end to high-level corruption, as talks between the country’s leaders failed to end a spiralling crisis.

For the second Friday running, rallies in the capital Bratislava and other towns and cities piled pressure on Slovak officials and security services to find whoever killed investigative reporter Jan Kuciak and his girlfriend Martina Kusnirova.

They were found shot dead in Kuciak’s home outside Bratislava on February 25th, prompting the publication of his last, unfinished article, which revealed possible links between senior Slovak political figures and Italy’s ‘Ndrangheta mafia group.

Slovak president Andrej Kiska, opposition parties and even members of the ruling coalition have urged populist prime minister Robert Fico to call elections or overhaul a cabinet that is dogged by allegations of corruption and incompetence.

Fico has rejected such demands, however, and accused Mr Kiska of conspiring with liberal philanthropist George Soros to launch a “coup” in Slovakia, with the help of opposition leaders and national media outlets that are critical of the government.