Milanova Denies Issuing Any Order to Create List of Firms with Ties to Russia

Bratislava, 23 October (TASR) - Former culture minister Natalia Milanova (opposition 'Slovakia' party) has denied issuing any order to create a database of companies and individuals with alleged ties to Russia, TASR has learnt from Milanova's statement responding to the Culture Ministry's announcement on Wednesday (22 October) that it's being fined €10,000 by the Office for Personal Data Protection (UOOU). "I never gave any order to create such a list, and I categorically reject any discrimination in awarding grants. My leadership's policy was non-discrimination — unlike that of the current leadership, which openly boasts about discriminating against entire groups of applicants," stated Milanova, adding that she can't comment on the ministry's claims at the moment, as she isn't a party to the proceedings and has no access to the case file. According to Milanova's statement, which was provided to TASR by 'Slovakia' spokesperson Matus Bystriansky, the ministry has only presented its own fabrications, and, as implied by the information so far, "the ministry itself doesn't know much about the purpose of the list." Milanova stated that the current leadership should be able to explain why the list was apparently still accessible on its website until recently. "It's been two and a half years since I served as culture minister, and the current minister should finally stop blaming me — an ordinary person with no office — and start focusing on her own work; for instance, on drawing EU funds, for which the figures are showing a big zero," she remarked. The Culture Ministry has been fined €10,000 by UOOU for creating a database of citizens and companies with alleged ties to Russia, which was published by the previous leadership under Milanova. The ministry has lodged an appeal against the decision, disputing only the amount of the fine, not the violation itself. It also accused the previous leadership of discriminatory practices. jrg/df