We’ll never be silent. We have a commitment to Ján Kuciak

Six years ago, our colleague Ján Kuciak and his fiancee Martina Kušnírová were murdered. He was killed because he wrote about the corruption and fraud committed by people who had protection from the state led by Robert Fico.

The journalist's murder shook all of society. People understood that an attack on a journalist is an attack on everyone. Robert Fico had to leave and it seemed that his era was over. Today he is back and attacking journalists again.

In the six years since the murder, he hasn't learned his lesson. Quite the opposite. He's hardening his position towards journalists. He describes critical journalists as enemies of the state. He refuses to answer their questions and prefers disinformation circles. He wants to build a propaganda empire, similar to the one Viktor Orbán built.

He is once again making targets of journalists and turning the anger of his voters on them. Fico did not order the murder of Ján Kuciak, but he is politically responsible for the environment in which someone thought that they could get away with murdering a journalist; that people like Marian Kočner enjoyed immunity and could rob, blackmail, bribe, threaten and eventually probably order a murder. This would not have been possible without Fico's system of mafia rule.

Today, Fico is strengthening protection for his people, he wants to control the police, influence the prosecutor's office and the courts. His new Penal Code downplays corruption, harms victims and grants amnesties to Fico's people.

We are journalists and our job is not to fight politicians. But we have to write about their failures, lies and crimes. This is not a sign of hostility. This is our service to the public, the effort to find the truth and the commitment we also have towards Ján Kuciak, Martina Kušnírová and their families.

Six years have passed since the murders, but it seems like yesterday. We will never back down. We will never be silent.

Beata Balogová, SME

Peter Bardy. Aktuality.sk

Matúš Kostolný, Denník N

Lukáš Diko, ICJK

Štefan Hríb, týždeň

Filip Minich, Refresher

Marcela Šimková, Hospodárske noviny

Martin Dargaj, SITA

Miroslava Kernová, O médiách

Jaroslav Vrábeľ, Korzár

Lucia Okšová, Forbes

Peter Dlhopolec, The Slovak Spectator

Lucia Yar, Euractiv

Radoslav Blažek, MY

Zoltán Szalay, Napunk

Igor Gressner, Šport

Csaba Nyerges, Új Szó