Zilinka Describes Premier's Statements as Attack on Prosecutor's Office

Bratislava, 15 February (TASR) - Prosecutor-General Maros Zilinka rejected statements made by Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) at a press conference on Sunday regarding amendments to legislation on cooperating defendants, describing the premier's statements as an attack on the prosecutor's office and on himself in his post as prosecutor-general, which is unacceptable in a democratic state respecting the rule of law, TASR has learnt from PG's post on social media on Sunday. "This is not only an attack, but also a quite obvious attempt to influence the activities of the prosecutor-general and the prosecutor's office by the most senior representative of the executive branch, of which the prosecutor's office is not a part. And I'll never allow that," said Zilinka. The prime minister criticised that the prosecutor-general challenged at the Constitutional Court the amendment to the Criminal Code concerning cooperating defendants, describing it as a hostile gesture towards the government and claiming that the prosecutor's office had entered into a political battle on the side of the opposition. He also expressed suspicion that the leadership of the prosecutor's office was interested in changing the governing coalition and that the prosecutor-general was protecting opposition entities from criminal prosecution. The prosecutor-general responded by stating that such claims are unfounded and represent an attempt by the executive branch to influence the activities of the prosecutor's office. He also denied that he takes into account the interests of political parties or public pressure in the performance of his duties. Zilinka described his submission to the Constitutional Court as a professional and legal response to the adopted legislation, which he believes to be unconstitutional. "To say that 'the prosecutor-general has sided with informers and rogues by filing motion to the Constitutional Court' is simply outrageous. How dare you, Prime Minister? Have you really lost your mind?" said the prosecutor-general, emphasising that he had never coordinated his constitutional and legal powers with any politician. am