Czech Foreign Ministry denies accreditation to journalist Zdislava Pokorná

The Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MZV) has repeatedly refused to grant accreditation to Zdislava Pokorná, a reporter for the outlet Deník N, preventing her from attending several press conferences. Minister Petr Macinka said the ministry would occasionally hold briefings for “alternative media and conspiracy blogs” and would invite Deník N, yet no clear justification was given for the denials; the ministry’s replies contained only generic statements.

Deník N described the action as unprecedented and discriminatory. The Czech Journalists’ Syndicate (Syndikát novinářů) issued a statement urging all Czech media to boycott MZV press events unless the practice changes, emphasizing that state institutions must provide equal access to information. Editors and politicians, including Jan Zahradil, criticized the minister’s approach as a breach of media equality and an example of governmental overreach.

The controversy has sparked a broader debate on press freedom in the Czech Republic, with additional commentary on alleged hidden funding of Deník N revealed by investigative journalist Thomas Paukner. The dispute continues to dominate discussions about media rights and government transparency.