The ‘Let’s Stop Corruption Foundation’ has warned that recent amendments to Slovakia’s Criminal Code are weakening the fight against corruption. At a press conference on Wednesday, the foundation said over 3,000 individuals have benefited from the changes, with fewer corruption cases prosecuted and many dropped due to the statute of limitations.
Director Zuzana Petková pointed to a sharp decline in bribery prosecutions — from 224 in 2024 to just 28 in the first half of 2025. She also criticised the near-disappearance of property forfeiture penalties, calling it a major setback for accountability.
The Justice Ministry rejected the findings, calling the foundation’s analysis misleading and politically motivated. It said most affected cases are misdemeanours still subject to punishment, and defended the changes to asset forfeiture, noting that the original law had been ruled unconstitutional.
The ministry accused the foundation of bias and of ignoring alleged abuses under the previous government. Despite the criticism, the foundation insists the state is stepping back from anti-corruption efforts.
Source: TASR
