On Monday the Parliament proposed a resolution, according to which proclaimed it "necessary to investigate thoroughly the Gorilla corruption case dating from the era of second centre right government of Mikuláš Dzurinda (2002-2006). It focuses on the alleged crony relations between politicians and the owners of the financial group Penta, details of which were leaked to the press. The resolution, drafted by governing Smer-SD, was approved at the extraordinary parliamentary session which was initiated by opposition MPs who wanted to focus on Special Prosecutor Dušan Kováčik's activities in investigating the scandal. The Opposition claims that Kováčik is blocking investigators' requests to interrogate some key witnesses who would be able to say whether the transcriptions of alleged wiretapping done by the Slovak Intelligence Service are authentic or not. Therefore, the opposition MPs proposed a resolution, in which the Parliament was supposed to declare that a thorough investigation into the Gorilla case as well as putting individuals responsible to justice is vital to ensure the democratic rule of law. The Parliament was also supposed to express concern over activities taken by Special Prosecutor Kováčik and condemn them as significantly detrimental to the thorough investigation of the case. This proposal, however, was rejected by Smer-SD, which controls the Parliament.
"The Special Prosecutor is fully autonomous and independent. He or she can be evaluated only by a superior prosecutor, who, in this case, is the Prosecutor-General", said Special Prosecutor Dušan Kováčik during the extraordinary parliamentary session, adding that the Gorilla case was used for political purposes in the build up to the 2012 election and is now being used as a political ploy again. "I refuse to take part in these political games", he added. The Special Prosecutor rejects the notion that the Gorilla case is being swept under the carpet and explained that incumbent Slovak Intelligence Service (SIS) head Ján Valko hasn't been questioned, as one of the first witnesses to be quizzed in a strictly confidential mode in February 2012 was former SIS director Karol Mitrik and there is no need to talk to the head of the service again.
