Fico Asks Opposition and Media for Cooperation Regarding Kuciak Murder
Bratislava, February 27 (TASR) – The coalition, Opposition and media should stick together and do their utmost to have the murders of investigative journalist Jan Kuciak and his fiancée Martina Kusnirova investigated as soon as possible, said Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD), adding that he rejects this “heinous crime” being invested with politics.
Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, Fico reiterated his offer of one million euros for anyone who provides relevant information about the murder. He even presented a table stacked with one million euros in cash.
“I couldn’t believe that they would be capable of taking advantage of a double murder in order to incite hatred and to further their own political ends. Unfortunately, that happened today,” said Fico in response to statements by the Opposition earlier in the day. He believes that there are only two available courses of action: to stick together or to engage in politicking. “I call on the governing coalition, Opposition and media to stick together. Let’s act together and do our utmost to have this heinous crime investigated as soon as possible and to bring the perpetrators before a court of justice.”
As for head of crisis management and state security at the Government Office Viliam Jasan and the prime minister’s assistant Maria Troskova, who had business ties with Italian suspects and via whom the Italian Mafia is allegedly connected with the Government Office, Fico asked both the media and the Opposition not to link innocent people with the murder of the journalist and his girlfriend.
Fico’s call didn’t sit well with Independent MP Miroslav Beblavy, who has urged the prime minister to dismiss Interior Minister Robert Kalinak (Smer-SD), Jasan and Troskova. “Today, we already know that the Italian Mafia has had people close to it installed at the Government Office. This begs the question of who protects this Mafia in Slovakia? Why are these people not extradited? Who invited its people to the Government Office and the Security Council? And who has kept them there even after all of this has come to light?” asked Beblavy, adding that only when Jasan and Troskova are cashiered can the Opposition stick together with the coalition and not a moment before.
