Slovakia Archives - VSQUARE.ORG

RSF: The dismal state of press freedom in V4 countries

Scratched,Paper,Texture,,Old,Newspaper,Background

Source: Here/Shutterstock

In three of the Visegrad Four countries – Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia – press freedom is in decline, according to the World Press Freedom Index 2021 published by Reporters Without Borders (RSF).

VSquare

21.04.2021

Russian and Chinese vaccine diplomacy at work

Chinese influence, disinformation, health care, Russia

Graphics by Lenka Matoušková

Hungary, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic are once again showing disregard for European solidarity, negotiating deals for Eastern vaccines, even at the price of sparking government crises.

Eva Kubániová

Peter Kapitán

Gabriella Horn

18.03.2021

The Survival of the Slovak Hungarian Media is in the Hands of Budapest

finance, Hungarian media, media freedom

The map shows how money from Hungary "flows" out of the country, to organizations located over the borders. Source: https://atlo.team/hungarianmoney-en/

Hungarian government invests billions of forints each year into Hungarian communities in neighbouring countries.

VSquare

01.03.2021

Three years after the murder of Ján Kuciak

investigative journalism, Jan Kuciak

Demonstrators take part in a protest rally marking the second anniversary of the murder of the investigative reporter Jan Kuciak and his fiancee Martina Kusnirova. Slovakia, February 21, 2020. Source: DAVID W CERNY / Reuters / Forum

Investigative journalist Ján Kuciak and his fiancée, Martina Kušnírová, were murdered on February 21, 2018. The reason was Ján’s journalistic work and the articles he wrote for aktuality.sk.

Lukáš Diko

Pavla Holcova

21.02.2021

Szczerek: Three decades of the Visegrad Group

EU, history

Szczyt Szefow Rzadow Panstw Grupy Wyszehradzkiej z okazji 30-lecia Wspolpracy Wyszehradzkiej

Meeting on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the signing of the 1991 Visegrad Declaration with the participation of the President of the European Council. From left: Igor Matovic, Charles Michel, Mateusz Morawiecki, Andrej Babis, Victor Orban. Cracow, Poland, February 17, 2021. Source: Filip Radwanski / FORUM

Visegrad is a slightly ephemeral entity, a quantum-like model and Schrödinger’s cat in one – sometimes it exists, sometimes it does not – it’s hard to tell, really.

VSquare

19.02.2021

How to get the vaccine in the Visegrad: a long way to go

Covid19, health care

Kolejka do rejestracji na szczepienia przeciw COVID-19

Massive queues formed at clinics as Polish seniors tried to register in the vaccination programme. Warsaw, 22 January 2021, Source: Darek Golik/Forum

Too few vaccines, not enough personnel, poor organisation, chaos, and growing disinformation campaigns – all four countries of the Visegrad Group (V4) are struggling with their vaccination programmes

VSquare

22.01.2021

Long years in jail and terabytes of scandals: The definite end of Kočner’s era

corruption, fraud, Jan Kuciak

Verdict on Slovak businessman Marian Kocner in Pezinok

Marian Kocner is seen in the courtroom for the verdict in the case of the murders of investigative journalist Jan Kuciak and his fiancee Martina Kusnirova, in Pezinok, Slovakia September 3, 2020. Source: RADOVAN STOKLASA / Reuters / Forum

The results of a police investigation into the murder of investigative journalist Ján Kuciak have left powerful figures in Slovakia extremely jumpy.

Lukáš Diko

Tomáš Madleňák

13.01.2021

The golden lion roars from Cracow

Catholic church, Ordo Iuris, right wing

TFP logo, a lion on a red background. Source: Reporters Foundation

How can Our Lady of Fatima holy cards distributed in Poland add up to hundreds of thousands of euros that have been invested in a radically conservative organization in Lithuania? Our cross-border investigation.

VSquare

30.12.2020

Bribery, secret tapes, and the arrest of a powerful Slovak tycoon

Jan Kuciak

Photo by David Ištok/Aktuality.sk

On 1 December dozens of special police commandos in Bratislava entered the headquarters of Penta, an influential private-equity firm.

VSquare

03.12.2020

PM’s soft spot for brides leads to a mass testing programme

Covid19, health care

Spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Trencianske Stankovce

A healthcare worker collects a swab sample from a person at a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) testing site during a second round of mass nationwide testing, in Trencianske Stankovce, Slovakia November 7, 2020 Photo by RADOVAN STOKLASA / Reuters / Forum

Slovak authorities underestimated the second wave of the pandemic and walked straight into it, unprepared.

Lukáš Diko

08.11.2020