Geneva, 10 March, 2025.- The Slovak Government must immediately end the stigmatisation and persecution of NGOs, journalists and civil society organisations and stop using surveillance systems for political repression, a group of independent human rights experts* said today.
“Over the past year, the Slovak Republic has faced erosion of fundamental freedoms and the stifling of civil society, including increasing pressure on non-governmental organisations (NGOs), the media, and peaceful protesters,” the experts said.
They warned that the labelling of NGOs receiving international funding as “foreign agents” and constant Government rhetoric against civil society organisations has sparked fears that political dissent and democratic freedoms could be severely restricted.
“We are deeply worried by Government actions that threaten the independence of key state institutions and freedoms of speech and assembly,” the experts said.
They called for measures to ensure the enjoyment of the rights to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression is protected fully in line with international standards.
The experts noted that human rights defenders, journalists, and protesters have increasingly become a target, including Government smear campaigns against several critical journalists and restrictions on press access to official events curtailing the rights of independent media. The Government also made plans to replace the public broadcaster and imperil its independence by making it vulnerable to political interference, sparking widespread condemnation from independent media and a general strike in the sector.
The experts warned that the adoption of the “Lex assassination” law, which severely restricts the right to peaceful assembly and includes provisions that limit protests near government buildings and private residences, further curtails the ability of Slovak citizens to express discontent and violates international law.
“We are dismayed about the alleged surveillance of activists using spyware like Pegasus by the Slovak Information Service, excessive police force against peaceful protesters, arbitrary detentions, poor detention conditions, and the criminalisation of human rights defenders in the country,” they said.
They also warned that the dissolution of the Special Prosecutor’s Office, which had been investigating high-level corruption, and the transference of its powers to the Attorney General’s Office has raised concerns about the weakening of accountability mechanisms.
The experts are in contact with the Slovak authorities regarding their concerns.