The trial of the former Slovakian president has begun

On Thursday, 29 June, the trial of former President Andrej Kiska, who is accused of tax fraud, began in the Slovak city of Poprad.

As reported by Aktuality, the court will hear the defendants and read dozens of witness statements and documentary evidence this week.

Another main hearing is also scheduled for the summer; its date depends on the presence of both parties.

Kiska, along with the executive director of KTAG, is accused of tax fraud.

According to the case file, Kiska financed his election campaign at the expense of KTAG, and then illegally received a VAT refund for costs incurred in the amount of 155 thousand euros.

The indictment was filed by the Presov Regional Prosecutor’s Office prosecutor in April 2022.

The former Slovak president says he does not consider himself guilty. Kiska claims he was glad to be able to tell the court how everything happened and believed that justice would prevail.

Andrej Kiska served as president of Slovakia from 2014 to 2019. In 2020, he decided to retire from politics due to health problems.

In foreign policy, Kiska supported Kosovo’s independence and was in favour of Slovakia diplomatically recognising Kosovo as an independent sovereign state. Kiska also came out against Russia over the war in Ukraine (before the full-scale invasion) and supported sanctions against Russia.