Kliment: Fico Wants to Intimidate Judges via Criminal Complaint against Zaleska

Bratislava, 4 May (TASR) - The press release by Premier Robert Fico (Smer-SD) on the filing of a criminal complaint against Specialised Criminal Court (STS) judge Pamela Zaleska, and the incitement of the court chairman to file a disciplinary motion for her conduct and decision-making in the case of defendant Dusan K.[name abbreviated due to legal reasons] is an inadmissible attempt by the executive to intimidate judges in relation to the independent and impartial performance of their constitutional mission, according to Supreme Court judge Juraj Kliment's call to protect and defend the independence of the judiciary from attacks by Premier Fico, which has been signed by dozens of judges to date. "This isn't an attack solely on Pamela Zaleska, but on every judge of every court and the judiciary as a whole. The Judicial Council hasn't noticed this attack, but let the rest of us stop being silent. By signing this appeal, let's show the public that independence is the highest value for us and that we won't allow it to be taken away from us," said Kliment. The judge added that the judiciary is run by independent judges, and that any attack on their independence is a threat to and a significant weakening of the rule of law. The premier confirmed at a press conference in late April his decision to file a criminal complaint against judge Zaleska, citing suspicions that she committed the crime of abusing public office in her decision regarding the guilt and sentencing of former special prosecutor Dusan K. Fico announced his plan to file a criminal complaint against judge Zaleska on Friday (10 April). Zaleska said in response that she won't respond to statements made by politicians, defendants or their legal representatives. According to her, for a judge, it is what is said in the courtroom that is important, not what is said at press conferences or in the media. On 11 December 2025, the Supreme Court ruled on an appeal filed by Justice Minister Boris Susko (Smer-SD) in the case of Dusan K. It overturned the 2022 ruling of the Supreme Court, as well as a 2021 ruling by STS. In May 2022, the Supreme Court definitively sentenced Dusan K. to eight years in prison for accepting a bribe and disclosing information from case files. It also imposed a fine of €100,000 on him. Originally, STS sent him to prison for 14 years in September 2021. ko/df