SaS Files Criminal Complaint over State Representatives' Statements about Coup

Bratislava, 3 November (TASR) - The opposition Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) party has filed a criminal complaint with the Prosecutor-General's Office (PG) in connection with statements about an alleged coup that state representatives started to make in January, SaS representatives told a news conference held in front of the PG Office's headquarters in Bratislava on Monday, adding that they deem this to be a case of spreading alarmist news. SaS criticised the government for not addressing the growing crime rate and worsening security situation while convening a special House session and Security Council meeting over an alleged coup at the beginning of the year. "When there were rumours about an alleged coup, the governing coalition was able to convene a Security Council meeting. They exchanged some information at this, but we don't know what it was, as the whole coup was fabricated," stated SaS leader Branislav Groehling, adding that government officials were unable to provide any facts about a coup. "We don't want to see this any more, security is failing in this country and we think that there's a need to act. That's why we're also filing a criminal complaint on suspicion that the crime of spreading alarmist news has been committed," he explained. The party looked at statements that have been made since January by Premier Robert Fico (Smer-SD), as well as Slovak Intelligence Service (SIS) head Pavol Gaspar, Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok (Voice-SD) and others. "These representatives, under Fico's leadership and with the help of the SIS director, spread reports that the opposition, together with NGOs, wanted to violently take over power in the country. They called it a coup d'état, with foreign forces, who were also armed, allegedly being involved," said SaS vice-chair Maria Kolikova. As these statements weren't followed up with any actions by the state authorities or security forces, it is obvious that this was alarmist news, stated Kolikova, adding that the statements caused concern among a part of the population. The Security Council met regarding an alleged attempt to destabilise Slovakia in late January, with information about a planned coup being allegedly contained in an SIS report. The premier claimed in late January that the Georgian National Legion and the Ukrainian intelligence service were involved in organising opposition protests in Slovakia. He said that he feared a potential attempt to organise a coup in Slovakia. President Peter Pellegrini, the House leadership and the premier described the situation as serious at the time. Opposition representatives, meanwhile, expressed their concerns that the coalition was misusing SIS. ko/df