President’s aide states that charges of criminal defamation against journalist will not be dropped
(IPI/IFEX) – The following is an IPI letter to President Rudolf Schuster: H.E. Rudolf Schuster President Bratislava Slovak Republic Via Fax: + 421 7 544 17 532 Vienna, 5 July 2001 Your Excellency, The International Press Institute (IPI), the global network of editors and media executives, wishes to reiterate its concern over criminal charges brought […]
Journalist faces criminal defamation charges
(IPI/IFEX) – In a 25 June 2001 letter to President Rudolf Schuster, IPI expressed its deep concern over charges of criminal defamation that he brought against a Slovak journalist. According to IPI’s sources, the president has filed a lawsuit against Ales Kratky, a commentator with the Slovak daily “Novy Cas”. Kratky is being sued under […]
Journalist appeals defamation charges
(CPJ/IFEX) – CPJ has written to Slovakian President Rudolph Schuster to express its dismay over recent defamation charges brought against Vladimir Mohorita, a journalist with the Slovak weekly “Zmena”. On 16 March 2000, Mohorita received a registered letter from the Bratislava 2 Regional Court informing him that unspecified, undated criminal charges had been filed against […]
Analysis of draft mass media law
(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) – The following is an ARTICLE 19 memorandum on the draft mass media law of the Slovak Republic: MEMORANDUM On the DRAFT MASS MEDIA LAW Of the SLOVAK REPUBLIC BY ARTICLE 19 The International Centre Against Censorship London August 1999 Introduction ARTICLE 19, The International Centre Against Censorship, has been asked to comment […]
IPI issues report on Slovakia?s elections and the media
(IPI/IFEX) – In a 21 September 1998 press statement, IPI says over the past few weeks, listeners to private Radio Twistâs news programmes have first been presented with a recorded apology issued by the General Director Andi Hryc. The statement announces that due to restrictive aspects of the Election Law, Radio Twist is legally forbidden […]
Slovak journalist assaulted and detained
(CPJ/IFEX) – CPJ is deeply concerned about the 7 August 1998 beating and detention by Bratislava (the capital city) police of Vladimir Bacisin, a widely respected investigative reporter at the private business daily “Narodna Obroda.” On the evening of 7 August, two police officers stopped Bacisin after he had crossed a downtown Bratislava street on […]
Proposed press legislation amendments would undermine press freedom
(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) – The following comments constitute an analysis by ARTICLE 19, the International Centre Against Censorship, of proposed amendments to Slovakia’s election legislation (Law No 80/1990). These proposed amendments are of great concern to ARTICLE 19 because, if passed, they would limit the freedom of the Slovak media, particularly the private electronic media and […]
Concerns for safety of journalist
(IPI/IFEX) – IPI is most concerned about the safety of Eugen Korda, Slovakia correspondent for the Prague-based TV station, Nova Television. In what appears to be the latest incident of harassment against the journalist, Korda’s new car was seriously damaged by unidentified persons on 18 March 1998. The tires of his new Opel Corsa were […]
Authorities temporarily cut independent radio station off its main frequency
(CPJ/IFEX) – On 13 October 1997, the state-run telecommunications company, Slovak Telecom, cut the popular independent radio station Radio Twist off its main frequency for 25 hours, citing unpaid bills for the use of its transmitter in the capital, Bratislava. Andrei Hric, the station’s owner and general manager, said Radio Twist was switched off without […]
Concern at statements directed against media
IPI is concerned at statements directed against the Slovak media by Ivan Lexa, head of Slovakia’s intelligence service (SIS). In a 22 May 1996 report to Parliament, Lexa dismissed the findings of a committee headed by Ladislav Pittner, a member of the Christian Democratic Movement. The findings accused Lexa, the SIS and Interior Minister Ludovit […]
Amendments to Penal Code could threaten freedom of expression
On 26 March 1996, the coalition government of Prime Minister Vladimir Meciar pushed through Parliament several amendments to Slovakia’s Penal Code. The amendments allow for imprisonment of people who are found to have organized anti-government rallies or spread false information about Slovakia abroad. This new legislation states that those who with “malicious intent circulate false […]