The following is a google translation of the article by Peter Bardy, Chief Reporter on Aktuality.sk, the online investigative journal for which Jan Kuciak worked before being brutally murdered in his own home along with his girlfriend. The translation is not perfect but the meaning comes across clearly. Sadly it is a familiar message for us Maltese. It drives home an additional truth: that the fight against corruption and the abuse of power is one that very evidently transcends borders and languages. It is a clear call for a European Civil Society that must rebuild this Europe and re-connect with notions of democracy. From the Atlantic to the Urals from the North Sea to the Mediterranean…. no one is exempt from this battle.
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They murdered the man who wanted to make Slovakia a better place to live.
Today is one of the worst days in my life. They murdered our colleague Jan Kuciak – a good man, a friend, a guy who did his job to make us live better. In order to uncover the curse and injustice. Not to be famous or rich. Together we believed that we can help that place on the map where we live.
That the company will change for the better when we write about fraudsters, thieves, corrupt. We really believed it. Really very.
They murdered his girlfriend. A girl who was beside her partner at the wrong time: when they came to murder him.
You read these lines and you do not know how much sadness is today in our editorial office. Something has happened that no one has allowed. Press the trigger and murder a man you do not even know why, because he wants to write about you?
Still on Wednesday last week, we and Jan Kuciak laughed and are not here today.
Thank you to all those who are standing on this day with us and the family of murdered young people who did not do anything wrong. Our thoughts point to John, his friend Martine, to families and loved ones.
Today is one of the saddest days in my life. Recognizing why Janko Kuciak has done journalism, we know that it is our duty to continue with it. Continue to work and believe that the police will be able to remove the murderer or murderers, or the orders of the murder of people whom we will not forget to die.
Rest in Peace.
