A Statement by Comenius University in Bratislava
We appeal to the state authorities and police to do everything in their power to investigate and solve the brutal murder of the journalist Ján Kuciak and his partner, Martina Kušnírová, and the many related serious affairs. This should be done not only out of respect to journalistic and human courage but also to ensure the indisputable role of freedom of speech and the protection of the media and journalists as basic pillars of a democratic society.
This act has traumatized Slovak society and shown that these values are not something to be taken for granted; we must work continually and responsibly to maintain them. At our university, we educate people in the spirit of critical thinking and the building of values based on humanistic and democratic principles. We support the development of Slovak society in the spirit of moral principles as well as in civic and social responsibility. We consider it essential for Slovakia to be guided by the values of democracy, humanism, and tolerance.
It is thanks to our students and their brave stance, expressed during the Protest March of 16 November 1989 as well as through the Velvet Revolution, that we have become a democratic country and can fully exercise our academic rights and freedoms.
We wish to express our sincere condolences to the families, friends, and workmates of the victims of this terrible crime. We are prepared to contribute our joint voice to safeguarding freedom and democracy, and we will always speak up whenever these values are threatened.
In Bratislava, 1.3.2018
Professor Karol Mičieta, Comenius University Rector
Professor Daniel Ševčovič, Chairman of the Comenius University Academic Senate