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Freedom of the Press 2016: Slovakia
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Freedom of the Press 2015: Slovakia
Ranked 38th in annual global media freedom report
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World Press Freedom Index 2014: Slovakia
Ranked 20th in annual press freedom index
15 October 1997
Alert
Authorities temporarily cut independent radio station off its main frequency
Incident details
legal action(CPJ/IFEX) - On 13 October 1997, the state-run telecommunications
company, Slovak Telecom, cut the popular independent radio
station Radio Twist off its main frequency for 25 hours, citing
unpaid bills for the use of its transmitter in the capital,
Bratislava. Andrei Hric, the station's owner and general manager,
said Radio Twist was switched off without notice after its midday
news show was broadcast. Telecom officials told Hric that the
move was due to his station's failure to pay 170,000 crowns
(about US$ 5,600) in overdue debts since 13 September. Hric said
he paid the overdue debt on 13 October, but the signal was still
shut off.
Hric said Slovak state television and public radio together owe
Slovak Telecom some 550 million crowns in overdue debts, while
VTV, a private television station linked to the government, owes
400 million crowns. None of these stations has been shut off for
their arrears. Hric concluded that Radio Twist was singled out
for its hard-hitting reporting on government activities. He said
Prime Minister Vladimir Meciar, in a television interview last
week, threatened unspecified retaliation against his station and
the independent Markisa-TV for reporting on his recent trip to
Croatia. Hric complained that Radio Twist has been subjected to
many verbal attacks and harassment by Slovak officials over the
past few years.
Radio Twist managed to stay on the air for the full 25 hours, but
for only part of its audience. The station switched its signal to
its privately owned transmitter in Banska Bystrica, in central
Slovakia, and moved all of its programming to its studio there.
Listeners in Bratislava, however, where Radio Twist enjoys the
greatest market share, were cut off due to distance, which
prompted many protests by the public. The signal was switched
back on after 2 pm on 14 October, which Hric attributed to public
pressure.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to authorities:
by Slovak authorities
independent radio station in Bratislava for arrears on a small
debt while other greater debtor stations, affiliated with the
government, remain on the air reveals a double standard in Slovak
policy on the media
independent media outlets than to public news organizations
stifles freedom of expression and violates all international
norms for press freedom and democracy
Appeals To
His Excellency Vladimir Meciar
Prime Minister
Office of the Government of the Slovak Republic
Bratislava, Slovakia
Fax: +427 5315 487
His Excellency
Michal Kovac
The President of Slovak Republic
Bratislava, Slovakia
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
Source
Committee to Protect Journalists
330 7th Ave., 11th Floor
New York, NY 10001
USA
info (@) cpj.org
Fax:+1 212 465 9568
- Most covered free expression issues in this country