The Slovak media watchdog enforcing compliance with media-related provisions in the law on direct presidential elections fined private Markiza TV 250,000 crowns on Tuesday. The Council for Radio and Television Broadcast (RRTV) also ordered Markíza to broadcast a notice of the violation in prime time.
The watchdog found Markíza guilty of violating the law twice: during its May 6 prime time news programme and on the "This is How it is in Slovakia" program May 9. RRTV head Peter Juras said in both cases the problem was in regards to a political advertisement which benefitted ruling coalition candidate Rudolf Schuster.
The media watchdog also has found Radio Free Europe (RFE) guilty of violating the law when the radio program "Actualities and Arguments" broadcast a commentary about May Day celebrations which was considered non-objective and biased. The RRTV ruled that the RFE has to broadcast a daily notice that it violated the law.
