The case of Interior Minister Robert Kaliňák's bank account and connections with the entrepreneur Ladislav Bašternák, a tax fraud suspect, continues. On Saturday, PM Robert Fico stated on public broadcasters Radio Television Slovakia's political discussion program that despite several unproved allegations, he doesn't see a reason to dismiss Robert Kaliňák from his post. On the contrary, Fico wants to see all suspicions against Kaliňák properly investigated. According to the PM, the only purpose behind the attacks against Robert Kaliňák is to destabilize Slovakia at every cost and thwart its Council of the EU Presidency. Fico also added that if it's proven that the entrepreneur Ladislav Bašternák committed any crime in regard to VAT returns, he would move out of Bašternák's apartment complex, Bonaparte. On Monday evening the opposition parties Freedom and Solidarity and Ordinary People plan a protest in front of the Bonaparte apartment complex. In response to the opposition's protest, PM Fico warned that if there is any violence (such as in the recent case in Britain of an MP being shot), parliamentary opposition will have to take full responsibility for it.
Tatra Banka employee Filip Rybanič, who hacked banking accounts of Interior Minister Robert Kaliňák, should be treated as a whistleblower, said lawyer Pavel Nechala, affiliated with NGO Transparency International Slovensko. According to Nechala, the public interest in this case overrides the provisions of banking secrecy. It was the leaking of banking transactions in Kaliňák's account and the account of the former transport minister Jan Počiatek (Smer-SD) that exposed connections to entrepreneur Ladislav Bašternák. This exposure has caused an earthquake on the political scene. Rybanič, assistant to MP Jozef Rajtár (Freedom and Solidarity), was arrested on June 10 and charged with violating the provisions of banking secrecy. If found guilty, Rybanič might face up to eight years in jail.
