BRATISLAVA, February 6, (WEBNOVINY) – The Slovak Syndicate of Journalists (SSN) gravely slams the decision of the Bratislava I District Court that preliminarily banned publishing of prepared but yet not completed book by journalist Tom Nicholson about the Gorilla graft case and ordered the author to instantly hand in all its versions. The syndicate considers the court’s decision to be an unprecedented interference in the freedom of speech and unambiguously anti-constitutional effort to influence the public opinion with using a modern censorship. “The Slovak Syndicate of Journalists protests against the verdict which is a dangerous precedent,” SSN said in a statement.
The Slovak Syndicate of Journalists fully respects independence of the Slovak judiciary and believes that despite the decision of the Bratislava I District Court, Slovak courts will respect the right to expressing one’s opinion. With its verdict the court turned the clock back to the Communist era when it was possible to publish only things that were approved by state authorities of press supervision. This decision puts shame on the Slovak judiciary not only in the eyes of journalists but also of all those who both at home and abroad believe in the freedom of speech as well as the freedom after speech, suggests the organization.
The ban on publishing the book by journalist Tom Nicholson on the Gorilla case is not censorship, Bratislava I District Court maintains. It explained that in the current state of affairs the right to protection of an individual prevails over information provision in a book publication.
SITA