Key witness in journalist murder case testifies about police intimidation and high-level connections

Zoltán Andruskó, a key witness in the murder case of investigative journalist Ján Kuciak, testified at the Pezinok court about intimidation by police officers and referenced former police chief Tibor Gašpar and former special prosecutor Dušan Kováčik. Andruskó also described his connections to Alena Zsuzsová, who has been charged as the alleged organizer of the murder. The testimony comes as part of ongoing proceedings in the high-profile case that has dominated Slovak politics since 2018. Kuciak and his fiancée Martina Kušnírová were shot dead at their home in February 2018, a crime that triggered massive protests and ultimately led to the resignation of then-Prime Minister Robert Fico. Kuciak had been investigating corruption and ties between Slovak politicians and Italian organized crime. Gašpar served as police chief during the Fico administration and resigned following the murders amid criticism of the police investigation. Kováčik was the head of the Special Prosecutor's Office, which handles major corruption and organized crime cases, before being charged with corruption himself. The case has exposed deep connections between organized crime, business interests, and Slovak political and law enforcement institutions.