Zaleska Praises Judge Kliment's Call to Protect Independence of Judiciary

Bratislava, 5 May (TASR) - Specialised Criminal Court (STS) judge Pamela Zaleska is aware of Supreme Court (NS) judge Juraj Kliment's call to protect and defend the independence of the judiciary from attacks by Premier Robert Fico (Smer-SD), which has been signed by dozens of judges to date, Zaleska has told TASR in response to the call, appreciating Kliment's courage and sensible effort aimed at protecting judicial independence and the rule of law. Kliment's call criticises, inter alia, Fico's statements regarding the filing of a criminal complaint against Zaleska. "I view this as essential and correct in that judge JUDr. Juraj Kliment has pointed out that this concerns every judge of every court and the judiciary as a whole," said Zaleska. According to Kliment's call, Fico's press release on the filing of a criminal complaint against Zaleska and his 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 duties. Kliment stated that this isn't an attack on Zaleska alone, but on every judge of every court and the judiciary as a whole. He 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. jrg/df