Unfinished Lives, Unfinished Justice

One year ago, a former policeman slipped into the home investigative journalist Ján Kuciak shared with his fiancee, Martina Kušnírová, and shot them both at close range, authorities say.

But bullets could not kill their legacy.

Thousands of the couple’s fellow Slovaks flooded the streets of Bratislava to demand justice. Prime Minister Robert Fico and three of his ministers were among those who resigned amid public accusations that the state was either negligent or complicit in the deaths.

Now, OCCRP, IRPI, Investigace.cz, and the Investigative Centre of Ján Kuciak are publishing new findings based on Ján’s reporting about organized crime in Slovakia and its ties to politics and law enforcement. The stories also reveal chilling new information about how he and Martina died.

Like their lives, justice is unfinished: Though four people are awaiting trial on charges related to the murders, the masterminds have gone unpunished.

In memory of Ján and Martina, journalists at OCCRP, its member centers, and its partners will continue reporting on the nexus of organized crime and corruption in the heart of Europe.