Slovakia: Deputy Prime Minister Attacks and Launches Smear Campaign Against Martina Töröková
Women Press Freedom raises alarm at continued attacks against journalists led by government politicians
Location: Slovakia, BratislavaDate: April 8, 2024
Women Press Freedom is appalled by the Deputy Prime Minister of Slovakia insulting and making baseless accusations against reporter Martina Töröková for asking him tough questions at a press conference. Since taking power in September 2023, the government has attacked journalists through vicious smear campaigns, triggering online harassment, and threatening to cut both state advertising contracts for private media and funding to the public broadcaster. What is becoming painfully evident is the state's utter disrespect and disregard for media freedom. This does not align with the values of the European Union, of which Slovakia is a member. We call upon the EU to take a firm stand against the Slovakian government’s treatment of journalists and media outlets. Abusing and degrading journalists and intimidating outlets by withholding funding is an assault on the press and is damaging to democracy. The discredit and systemic attacks against the press doing their jobs must stop.
On April 8, 2024, Martina Töröková, a reporter for TV Markíza, was subjected to a vicious verbal attack by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Environment, Tomáš Taraba. As Töröková attempted to interview Taraba following a press conference, her line of questioning sparked an aggressive reaction from the ultranationalist Slovak National Party politician.
Töröková inquired about bear shootings in Slovakia, specifically addressing recent events in Liptovský Mikuláš. Instead of addressing the journalist's inquiries with professionalism, Taraba resorted to a barrage of verbal abuse, derision, and baseless accusations of political bias.
In video footage capturing the encounter, Taraba's disdain for journalistic inquiry is palpable as he resorts to mocking Töröková and distorting the narrative. Taraba's decision to record the altercation and share it on social media exemplifies a calculated effort to perpetuate a smear campaign against Töröková, inciting a deluge of online harassment and threats directed towards her.
In response to Taraba's egregious behavior, TV Markíza publicly condemned the attack, rightfully denouncing the Minister's actions as unacceptable and antithetical to the principles of a free and independent press.
Instead of acknowledging his wrongdoing, Taraba doubled down on his disparagement of Töröková, dismissing her questions as "stupid" and declaring his intention to cease further interactions with the journalist. Taraba also announced a collective decision by government coalition politicians to boycott TV Markíza and abstain from engaging with the outlet.
Women Press Freedom is documenting a concerning trend of government officials, from the ruling party SMER and its coalition partners, attacking journalists and press freedom. Since the formation of the new government in September 2023, Prime Minister Róbert Fico has labeled Markíza as "enemy media" and threatened to cut state advertising contracts.
Last month, Ľuboš Blaha, a prominent SMER figure, compared a Television JOJ presenter to Hitler, sparking online harassment. Another SMER MP, Richard Glück, targeted a Denník N journalist, accusing her of political bias after she published an article critical of him. These attacks are part of a broader pattern, including smear campaigns against other journalists like Zuzana Kovačič Hanzelová and Martin M. Šimečka. The government also proposed a law to tighten control over public broadcaster Radio and Television Slovakia has raised concerns about democracy and freedom of expression.
Women Press Freedom denounces the assault on Martina Töröková and the ensuing campaign to delegitimize and marginalize TV Markíza. These repeated attacks against journalists and media outlets represent a grave threat to democracy and freedom of expression in Slovakia.
We urge all those committed to press freedom, including civil society organizations and the European Union, to unequivocally condemn such attacks on press freedom and take concrete steps to safeguard journalists' rights to carry out their work without fear of reprisal or censorship.
Protecting journalists and media organizations from intimidation and coercion is necessary for maintaining a diverse and lively society that upholds accountability and transparency.
Women Press Freedom is an initiative by The Coalition For Women In Journalism
The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help female career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.
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