In Slovakia, controversial businessman Marian Kocner was acquitted by the courts on Friday in the case of the murder of journalist Jan Kuciak and his partner in February 2018. On the other hand, one of his relatives was heavily condemned.
A heavy sentence was imposed this Friday, May 19 by the special court responsible for convicting those responsible for the murder of investigative journalist Jan Kuciak and of his fiancée, Martina Kusnirova. Alena Zsuzsova was sentenced to 25 years in prison for ordering it and also for trying to organize the murder of two prosecutors. It will also have to pay 160,000 euros to the families of victims.
For lack of sufficient evidence, the businessman with a sulphurous reputation Marian Kocner, who did business with the sponsor, was acquitted. He will nevertheless remain in prison, due to a long sentence he is serving for another case, explains our correspondent in Prague, Alexis Rosenzweig.
” Justice has not been fully served »
” We won’t stop there “Said the father of Jan Kuciak, killed at 27 at his home. His girlfriend’s mother also said she wanted to appeal, after what she called “ shame on the justice system ” Slovak. Jan Kuciak had published several articles on influential entrepreneur Marian Kocner’s corruption and suspicious dealings with senior politicians in the country.
According to the organization Reporters Without Borders (RSF), justice has not been fully served “. ” This verdict leaves a bitter taste “, emphasizes Christophe Deloire, secretary general of the organization.
The conviction of one of the masterminds of the assassination of the Slovak journalist Jan Kuciak is a relief, but the verdict leaves a bitter taste due to the acquittal of the main suspect. We stand in full solidarity with the families of the victims. https://t.co/QNDUQJRqz5 pic.twitter.com/YywkJkGo5E
— Christophe Deloire (@cdeloire) May 19, 2023
Of the initial suspects, two pleaded guilty and have already been sentenced, including the executor of the crime. Ex-soldier and hitman Miroslav Marcek was sentenced to 23 years in prison in April 2020 for killing the couple.
The double murder plunged the country of 5.4 million people into crisis and sparked the biggest protests since the fall of communism. The Prime Minister at the time, Robert Fico, was forced to resign and the subsequent parliamentary elections were won by the opposition.
Five years after this double homicide, Robert Fico is again leading the polls before the elections scheduled for the end of September.
► To read also: Slovakia: the murder of Jan Kuciak provokes a political crisis in the country
(And with AFP)