Illustrative photograph (source: SME - Jozef Jakubčo)
The United States has raised concerns over the erosion of media freedom and civil society protections in Slovakia, warning of increasing threats to journalists and government efforts to weaken institutional checks.
According to the State Department’s 2024 Country Report on Human Rights Practices, senior Slovak officials frequently criticised organisations and news outlets opposed to the ruling coalition, restricting access to funding and signalling possible legislative retaliation.
While the report noted no cases of extrajudicial killings or enforced disappearances, it highlighted “serious restrictions” on freedom of expression, citing threats of violence against journalists and political pressure on the country’s public broadcaster.
Slovak media under fire
A particular flashpoint was the government’s overhaul of the public service broadcaster RTVS, replacing it with a new entity, STVR, in June. Critics said the move gave ministers undue control over editorial oversight. Concerns intensified in August, when journalists alleged newsroom leadership intervened in coverage of nepotism claims against Environment Minister Tomáš Taraba. Several correspondents also reported intimidation following management changes.
The Investigative Centre of Ján Kuciak (ICJK), established after the 2018 murder of the investigative reporter, recorded 48 incidents targeting journalists between January and early July, including death threats, stalking and legal harassment. Nearly one-third of these cases involved politicians or politically affiliated figures, the report said, with women journalists disproportionately affected.
In a high-profile dispute, Prime Minister Robert Fico sued Aktuality editor-in-chief Peter Bárdy and his publisher over the use of his image on a book cover, demanding €100,000 in damages. The case was viewed by press freedom advocates as part of a wider pattern of judicial pressure on critical outlets.
Civil society groups also withdrew from a government-led platform on press freedom, after a former investigative journalist was replaced by a figure accused of promoting disinformation. The body, set up to improve journalist safety, has not met since June.
Washington warns Slovakia’s democracy at risk
Beyond media concerns, the State Department highlighted legal reforms shielding senior officials from prosecution, as well as reports of inadequate conditions in detention facilities. A January review of government-run centres for juvenile offenders found evidence of physical abuse, solitary confinement and forced labour, prompting the closure of two institutions.
The report also documented the spread of antisemitic rhetoric, with senior politicians engaging with far-right online figures. Prime Minister Fico himself drew criticism in April for using lyrics associated with a fascist-era militia in a social media attack on an opposition leader.
While labour rights and workplace safety were generally upheld, NGOs warned of gaps in enforcement in the informal sector. Alleged violations of wage and hour laws were common in construction and hospitality, although authorities maintained adequate inspection regimes.
The State Department concluded that, although Slovakia retains a functioning democratic system, “ongoing political attacks on the media, hostile rhetoric, and selective reforms” risk undermining its commitments to democratic accountability and human rights.
