An alleged criminal group has been exposed in Slovakia. Slovak police charged the country’s spy chief and 5 other high-ranking officials in the security area with creating a criminal group and conspiring to abuse power.
The case has emerged just weeks ahead of an early parliamentary election.
Source: AP
The detained officials are accused of abuse of power and criminal conspiracy. The head of the police, Stefan Hamran, stated this.
The police identified those charged only by their first names, but Hamran confirmed that the current chief of the Slovak Information Service, Roman Alac, his predecessor Vladimir Pcolinsky, and National Security Authority director Roman Konecny were among the charged individuals.
According to him, the head of the National Security Directorate and the former head of the spy agency known as SIS are also accused of abuse of power in a similar but separate case.
Hamran said that the seven individuals conspired as a criminal group led by businessman Peter K. Their aim was to obstruct investigations into corruption cases dating back to the period of former left-wing Prime Minister Robert Fico’s rule until 2020.
Four investigators from the National Criminal Agency were detained and charged with witness tampering. However, the court later dismissed the charges.
The officials are also accused of conspiring to get rid of employees of the security agency that issues security clearances that allow officials to access classified information.
Pro-Russian leader Robert Fico, who wants to return to the Slovak Prime Minister position, said the move so close to the elections was intended to damage his party and the opposition.
The former prime minister called the event a “police coup”, demanded Hamran’s resignation, and called an extraordinary meeting of parliament to discuss the issue.
However, his opponents believe that the police should investigate all the allegations. On 18 August, Slovak President Zuzana Chaputova met with members of the current interim government to discuss the crisis.
Fico’s left-wing party, Smer-SD, lost the 2020 general election. It was replaced by a coalition government with pro-Western parties which campaigned on an anti-corruption platform.
Since the new government came to power, several high-ranking officials, police officers, judges, prosecutors, politicians and businessmen have been charged with corruption and other crimes.
Six weeks before a crucial election, a liberal party Progressive Slovakia vowing to keep Slovakia pro-EU and pro-Ukraine policy, emerges as a primary competitor against the pro-Russian frontrunner.
Former Prime Minister Robert Fico’s Smer, a pro-Russian party that has criticised the European sanctions on Russia, will face up against Progressive Slovakia, a party vowed to safeguard democratic institutions and the pro-EU attitude, in the September 30 election.
In the backdrop of Russia’s war, the makeup of Slovakia’s next government coalition will determine whether the country retains its present pro-Western posture or adopts a Eurosceptic pro-Russian stance.
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