Mikulec Questions Interior Ministry Official Over Alleged Info Leaks (2)

Bratislava, 13 January (TASR) - The opposition's 'Slovakia' party has raised doubts about the director of the Citizenship Department at the Interior Ministry, Henrieta Kocipak, fearing a possible leak of information from the office with respect to her husband, who, according to the party, was allegedly charged with people smuggling in the past, former interior minister (2020-23) and MP Roman Mikulec ('Slovakia') stated at a press conference on Tuesday. Because of this, the party has asked the Internal Affairs Inspectorate (UIS) to verify the information. It has also asked the National Security Authority (NBU) whether it sees grounds to open a security clearance review for Kocipak. The Interior Ministry rejects dragging civil servants into political disputes and discrediting the ministry through employees' family members. It declares that the director is performing her duties in accordance with the law. "The husband of the director of the Citizenship Department at the Interior Ministry is charged with people smuggling. Are we really supposed to believe what Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok (Voice-SD) tried to convince us of last week — that Slovakia is not a safe place for smugglers? Or should we think that this applies only to smugglers who are not connected to the Voice-SD party?" asked Mikulec, adding that Kocipak's appointment is suspicious. Mikulec also pointed out that her husband was allegedly involved in a 2011 case concerning an indicted employee of the Border and Foreign Police Office of the Police Corps Presidium. "She carried out checks on foreign nationals, persons of Ukrainian nationality, whose personal data as well as other official data she disclosed and provided to her then-boyfriend," Mikulec said, adding that this person was allegedly Kocipak's husband. Mikulec is therefore asking the UIS to verify the information and determine whether manipulation or leakage of information is occurring at the Citizenship Department of the Interior Ministry. "I am also asking the director of the NBU to verify or determine whether the stated information is an obstacle or a reason to open a security clearance review of the director of the Citizenship Department," the MP added. The Interior Ministry told TASR that Kocipak has worked in several positions in public administration since 1999, in line with the principles governing the civil service. "The person mentioned at the press conference with respect to the director of the Citizenship Department of the Interior Ministry is not in any civil service or employment relationship with the Interior Ministry," the ministry underlined. It explained that the department's remit is to grant citizenship to persons who, among other things, have already been granted residence in the past, with the exception of applicants for whom the Citizenship Act does not require this. "The granting of citizenship is a process that takes place fully in accordance with this law. Likewise, all information for the minister in cases of granting citizenship by so-called exception is prepared on the basis of documents as required by the law itself," the ministry declared. It also added that the position of director of the Citizenship Department is subject to a first-level security clearance. A spokesperson for the UIS confirmed to TASR that the office will verify the information presented at the press conference. The NBU told TASR that it obtains and evaluates information from all sources and always acts in accordance with the law when there is reason to do so. "However, the NBU provides information exclusively to authorised entities," added NBU spokesperson Kristina Petro Garaiova. NOTE: This story has been extended to include the final paragraph mf