VIDEO Unveiling of the monument to Ján and Martina: Families of the murdered and celebrities have arrived! – Tops

Watch the commemorative archive video for the third anniversary of the murders of Ján Kuciak and Martina Kušnírová

For four years now, they have passed from the heinous crime that shook the whole of Slovakia. Investigative journalist Ján Kuciak and his fiancée Martina Kušnírová were murdered in their house in Veľká Mača on February 21, 2018. A few days later, on February 26, in the morning, their limp bodies were found. A wave of protests started in the country and the then Attorney General Jaromír Čižnár wanted to “unleash hellAngry people demanded the departure of the then police president Tibor Gašpar, but also the Minister of the Interior Robert Kaliňák and Prime Minister Robert Fico.

A monument was unveiled on SNP Square

There will be a memorial on Bratislava’s SNP Square in honor of Kuciak and Kušnírová. He will grow up in a place where people lit candles for John and Martin and reveal him exactly today, on the fourth anniversary. Prime Minister Eduard Heger will also be present.

The monument has the form of a crack or an open wound. Its creation was initiated by MP Kristián Čekovský. “The murder of John and Martin, as well as the subsequent protests, will remain forever in our history. Nevertheless, the current place of reverence in the form of scattered candles and photographs placed on the ground does not look dignified.” said Čekovský at the time. “That’s why last September, not as a politician, but as a man and a former journalist, I decided to replace the improvised place of reverence with a long-term and cultivated monument.” added the deputy.

Photo gallery (12)

A memorial for the murdered Ján and Martin was unveiled on SNP Square in Bratislava.
Source: Vlado Anjel

He also mentions Lipsic

The current special prosecutor Daniel Lipšic also commemorates the anniversary of the murder of the journalist and his fiancée. “Four young people died four years ago just because they wanted to live in a country where law and justice apply. The day after this cowardly act was discovered, I met Ján Kuciak’s parents and siblings in the apartment of my fiancé Mária Kuciaková at one I remember Ján Kuciak’s father telling me at the time that he didn’t want revenge, he just wanted to look into his son’s killer eyes and ask them why they had done it. “And then – with those first flakes of snow – I realized what two different worlds we had (and have) in Slovakia,” mentions Lipšic. He then represented Ján Kuciak’s family.

“The first world is a world of decent and humble people who raise their children in a modest environment, give them education and teach them true values. That was and is the world of the families of John and Martin. And then there was – and still is – the second world. A world of power, manipulations, luxury suites, watches, yachts and companions. This other world, just to stay in power, created the conditions for the insidious murder of John and Martin. A world of hatred, revenge, but in fact a world of fear. “ described Lipšic.

The president honored the memory of Ján and Martina

President Zuzana Čaputová also mentions the day when Ján and Martina were murdered. She came to Veľká Mača to light a candle and brought roses to the deceased. A memorial is to be erected on the site of the unfinished house of the murdered couple.

The president in front of the house gate named the causes of this accident. “It has been four years since John and Martin were murdered. They were killed because John worked in his work to expose corruption and abuse of power. They were killed because he did things that are in the interests of us all. Four years a little they have relieved the pain of loved ones, family, colleagues, but they have certainly not cured it, “ states the head of state sadly.

President Zuzana Čaputová came to Veľká Mača to honor the memory of Ján and Martina

We don’t forget!
Ján Kuciak and Martina Kušnírová
(† 21 February 2018) pic.twitter.com/5ktDwIoNI4

– Juraj Rizman (@Juraj_Rizman) February 21, 2022

Several politicians recall Kuciak’s legacy

Today, not only the president or Daniel Lipšic mention the journalist and his fiancée, but also various politicians and the mayor of Bratislava, Matúš Vallo. “They controlled the structures of the state and thought it belonged to them. They despised us and lived only for their power. They did not shy away from threats or murders because they believed they would pass. They killed Ján and Martina, two young people who wanted to survive to live in a decent state and do a lot of useful things. You have been left with us. We will not forget! ” Vallo wrote on social media.

Interior Minister Roman Mikulec described Kuciak as an honest journalist who sought and uncovered the truth and was not intimidated. According to the minister, his work has a huge impact, even more so today. As he said, the loss of his life in the fight against the corruption squid hangs over us like a memento. “The wave of hatred fed by some politicians today is a frightening link to the past. Four years ago it was a journalist, these days and weeks other groups of people are the target of attacks, and only because they are doing their job honestly. I want to reassure everyone that the police will not cover their eyes from attacks on journalists, paramedics and, most recently, members of the National Council of the Slovak Republic, ” declared Mikulec.

Culture Minister Natália Milanová emphasizes that being an investigative journalist must not mean living in fear for your life and the lives of your loved ones. “And while not every journalist meets all the attributes of balanced and truth-seeking journalism, it is important that everyone has the conditions for a secure, free and independent environment.” the minister declared. She called for joining forces in the fight against the mafia, in which free and independent media should also be helpful. Minister of Defense Jaroslav Naď declared that they would not allow the mafia to return to power.

“Years and days are running, but the legacy of Ján and Martina calling for the truth remains a strong impetus for us and work for a better and safer Slovakia so that something like this never happens again,” said Nad. Justice Minister Mária Kolíková mentions the murder of a journalist as a shock.

“I perceive the journalistic community a little differently, as I spent a substantial part of my childhood on television thanks to my parents who worked there. I appreciate journalism. “We began to look at the importance of the ‘rule of law’ in a different way. We had a great upsurge of people and public opinion in the fight for the rule of law.” evaluated Kolíková.

Milan Majerský, chairman of the non-parliamentary KDH, also mentions the murdered journalist and his fiancée. “They longed for the truth and paid with their lives for wanting to research it and bring it to light,” stated on the social network Majerský. He stressed the need to continue the struggle for freedom and truth. “Let’s protect her on a daily basis – everyone as he can and where he is,” added Majerský.

Progressive Slovakia (PS) thinks that a lot has changed since the murder of a journalist and his fiancée, something for the better, something for the worse. “We don’t have to lie – the police war and disagreements in our country’s prosecutor’s office do not give much hope that the system has been fundamentally cleansed. , ” evaluated PS. According to him, the death of Ján and Martina must be remembered not only because their cold-blooded murder opened Slovakia’s eyes, but also because of what they did in life.

Ján Kuciak studied and taught at the University of Constantine the Philosopher in Nitra. Even today, they commemorate the fourth anniversary of his murder.

Robert Fico talks about the abuse of murder

According to the chairman of the Smer-SD opposition party, Robert Fico, the murder of Ján Kuciak and his fiancée Martina Kušnírová was politically abused. He announced this on the occasion of the fourth anniversary of their death. According to Fico, no deaths have yet been misused for political purposes, as in this case. He reminded that no one still knows who is behind the murder.

“Only journalists and government politicians who tell their lies about my government’s responsibility know this.” Fico stated. He compared the media’s approach to the current and former governments, pointing to the use of the double standard. “Let the anniversary of the murder of a journalist and his girlfriend be a memento of the abuse of journalism to fight the current opposition, a memento of the total disgrace of journalism and proof that journalists and media owners are responsible for the state of Slovakia in 2022,” said Fico.

Who is the killer and the client?

Miroslav Marček is legally convicted for the murder of Ján Kuciak and his fiancée. “I knocked, Mr. Kuciak opened the door for me. Then, unfortunately, I noticed another person. I ran after her into the kitchen and shot her.” described in the Specialized Criminal Court. He shot Martina Kušnírová in the head and Ján Kuciak twice in the chest. Marček said that Kuciak should have been kidnapped and murdered so that no one could find him.

Zoltán Andruskó, who was the first to confess to mediating the murder, is also legally convicted. Alena Zsuzsová, a heron used by Marian Kočner, was to address him. It is Kočner who is accused of ordering Kuciak’s murder.

The hearing continues at the Specialized

The Senate of the Specialized Criminal Court, led by Judge Ružena Sabová Kočner, acquitted Zsuzsová of the charges. Only Tomáš Szabó was found guilty. However, the Supreme Court ruled that the case had to be heard again. The hearing will start again on February 28, and the case was also connected with the case of the planned murder of prosecutors.

VIDEO Unveiling of the monument to Ján and Martina: Families of the murdered and celebrities have arrived!