Freedom of Speech Memorial opens in Veľká Mača

A Freedom of Speech Memorial has been officially opened in Veľká Mača, Slovakia, at the site where journalist Ján Kuciak and his fiancée Martina Kušnírová were murdered in February 2018. The memorial was established through an initiative by the Trnava Self-Governing Region with the consent of the victims' families.

Designed by architects Benjamín Brádňanský and Vít Halada along with artist Martin Piaček, the project, titled ‘Garden’, features a concrete structure and a sloping garden. The design uses a tilted plane as a metaphor for society being thrown out of balance, while the upward slope toward the horizon symbolizes hope. The project cost approximately 650,000 euros.

The opening ceremony was attended by the families of the victims, public figures, and international guests. During the event, Jozef Kuciak, the father of the slain journalist, expressed his hope that the site would serve as a path toward hope. Zlatica Kušnírová, the mother of Martina Kušnírová, called for the site to serve as a reminder for future generations to fight for truth and justice.

The memorial site will be managed by the Vlastivedné Museum in Galanta. While three individuals have been convicted for the crime, legal proceedings regarding the organizers of the murder continue in Slovak courts.