Dobrovodsky: I Won't Let Anyone Draw Me into Political Conflicts

Bratislava, 19 August (TASR) – Public Ombudsman Robert Dobrovodsky rejects claims suggesting political motivation behind his recent decision to challenge the new NGO legislation in the Constitution Court, stating that it is based solely on his own findings and the legal analysis conducted by his staff, TASR learnt on Tuesday. Dobrovodsky emphasised that the proposal contains exclusively professional and constitutional legal arguments. „I distance myself from attempts by political actors to draw me into domestic political conflicts," he said in a recent statement. Dobrovodsky reiterated that his mission is to protect the fundamental rights and freedoms of both individuals and legal entities against state power. He noted that this mission also guided the filing of the proposal with the Constitutional Court. He made it clear that in exercising his constitutional powers, he will not be influenced by political positions of the Government Office, the ruling coalition, or the parliamentary opposition. „Therefore, in further proceedings before the Constitutional Court, I will respond only to substantive and well-reasoned professional objections to the content of my proposal," Dobrovodsky added. Earlier in the day, the Government Office criticised Dobrovodsky's decision, claiming that by challenging the new legislation, the Ombudsman has sided with the political opposition. mf