Prosecutors Call on Public Authorities to Address Attacks Against Them

Bratislava, April 24 (TASR) - The Slovak Prosecutors Council has long viewed attacks on the integrity of prosecutors during the performance of their duties as a serious issue and emphasizes that these attacks reflect the growing coarseness of public life and are becoming more frequent, with such behavior also evident among political elites, council chair Stanislav Jakubcik told TASR on Tuesday, underlining that the council members condemn these attacks and call on relevant authorities to take action. Jakubcik highlighted that the attacks take various forms, including verbal and non-verbal abuse, insults, the publication of prosecutors’ images without their consent, and the dissemination of personal data. According to him, the attacks come from a wide range of sources — not only from the defendants but also from self-proclaimed activists, supporters of the accused, and dissatisfied citizens. "The Slovak Prosecutors Council urgently calls for a clear public condemnation of all forms of attacks (verbal, non-verbal, online, and threats) against prosecutors by all top constitutional officials, political party leaders, and public figures,” the chair stated. The council also calls for strict respect for the separation of powers and restraint in commenting on ongoing criminal proceedings, as such comments may undermine judicial independence. Furthermore, the council is urging journalistic organizations and the Slovak Bar Association to promote and uphold professional ethics when reporting on court proceedings and making public statements. mf