Slovak journalist Peter Schutz, known for his criticisms of the government, was attacked by an unknown assailant in a mall in Košice, requiring medical attention. Officials' reactions were critical of him, instead of defending him.

Peter Schutz, a 70-year-old Slovak journalist, was attacked on Saturday in a shopping center in Košice, requiring medical attention and surgery for a fractured femur. Schutz is known for his criticisms of the government led by Robert Fico. Reactions from Slovak officials have been controversial; Interior Minister Matúš Šutaj Eštok condemned the violence but emphasized that the journalist's polarizing statements contribute to social tensions. Additionally, Environment Minister Tomáš Taraba stated that journalists are not above the law, stressing that violent attacks must be condemned, even in the case of those who make controversial statements. The police are investigating the case, and Schutz's attack revives discussions about violence against the media in Slovakia, where serious incidents have occurred in the past, including the assassination of journalist Ján Kuciak in 2018.