CPJ, others call on Slovakia to withdraw repressive media bill

The Committee to Protect Journalists and seven other international press freedom organizations have called on Slovakian authorities to immediately withdraw a draft law which would effectively end the public broadcaster’s independence.

The Slovak Television and Radio bill would dissolve the state-owned Radio and Television of Slovakia (RTVS) and replace it with a new, politically controlled body.

The eight organizations called on the European Union to urgently address this grave threat to press freedom, which contradicts its recently voted Media Freedom Act, warning that the bill could become law before elections to the European Parliament in June.

Read the full statement below.