Article written by a murdered journalist published
The New York Times
BRATISLAVA, Slovakia — Before he and his fiancée were murdered in their home, a Slovak journalist was investigating a powerful Italian organized crime group, its activities in his country and its possible ties to Slovak government officials, the journalist’s colleagues said on Wednesday.
The journalist, Jan Kuciak, was looking into whether the ‘Ndrangheta, the Calabrian organized crime syndicate, had funneled money into Slovakia, investing in real estate and other ventures, and developing ties to Slovak politicians — including people close to the prime minister — according to Aktuality.sk, the news site he worked for, and the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project, one of several organizations collaborating on the investigation.
A version of Mr. Kuciak’s last, unfinished article was published on Wednesday by Aktuality and other news organizations. It explored the business dealings of Antonino Vadala, an Italian man living in Slovakia whom Italian authorities suspected of having ties to the ‘Ndrangheta.
Mr. Vadala could not be reached for comment.
The article’s publication prompted the resignation of high-ranking Slovak government officials. Mr. Kuciak’s report says that among the major investments Mr. Vadala and his associates made was in farmland, to draw European Union agricultural subsidies.
Mr. Kuciak — the first journalist killed in modern Slovakia — had begun his investigation by looking into how a woman named Maria Troskova became an aide to Viliam Jasan, a prominent member of the ruling party, and then to Prime Minister Robert Fico. The government had not made clear either her qualifications or her duties.
The reporter discovered that Ms. Troskova had previously been a business partner of Mr. Vadala’s, according to the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project. Mr. Kuciak’s published article did not suggest that she had any knowledge of or involvement with the ‘Ndrangheta.
Ms. Troskova and Mr. Jasan, who headed the government’s crisis management office, resigned from their positions on Wednesday. They said in a statement that they were “shaken” by the killings.
“We categorically refuse any connection to this tragedy,” they said. “But since our names are used in political fight against the prime minister Robert Fico, we decided to leave our posts at the government office until the end of this investigation.”
The murders prompted a host of denunciations from European officials, including Mr. Fico, who said that violence and intimidation against journalists undermined civil society and announced a reward of 1 million euros for information leading to solving the crime.