Main EU Institutions Informed about Case of Journalist Shadowing

Brussels, January 21 (TASR) - Members of the European Parliament's (EP) Media Working Group, which also includes Slovak MEP and Chair of the Employment and Social Affairs Committee Lucia Duris Nicholsonova (Freedom and Solidarity/SaS), sent on Thursday a letter to Slovak Prime Minister Igor Matovic (OLaNO), Interior Minister Roman Mikulec (OLaNO) and Justice Minister Maria Kolikova (For the People) because of shadowing of Dennik N reporter Monika Todova. The letter was forwarded also to the European Commission and the Council of the EU. "The case of shadowing of journalist Monika Todova is alarmingly reminiscent of the events of the massive 2018 shadowing operation which is related to the murders of Jan Kuciak and his fiancée Martina Kusnirova," reads the letter also sent to head of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and EC Vice-president for Values and Transparency Vera Jourova. "We strongly condemn such practices and call on the Government to act immediately, and reject unequivocally and publicly the shadowing, screening or slandering of journalists and implement measures to prevent these acts," reads the open letter. MEP Duris Nicholsonova also said that it's important that politicians, prosecutors and the police paid due importance to the shadowing of the journalist and investigated this case thoroughly and without delay. am/mcs/mf