PS to File Criminal Complaint Regarding Education Ministry's X-rock Project

Bratislava, 4 June (TASR) - The opposition Progressive Slovakia (PS) party will file a criminal complaint regarding the Education Ministry's X-rock project worth €10 million, PS MP Tina Gazovicova told a press conference on Thursday, adding that the party is also demanding an immediate halt to the project, answers from Education Minister Tomas Drucker (Voice-SD) and an investigation into the case by the relevant authorities. X-rock is a scientific project for which the Education Ministry has allocated EU funds for research and science. It involves the safe storage of radioactive waste in underground repositories, stated Gazovicova, adding that Samer Khouri, Vice-dean of the Faculty of Mining, Ecology, Management and Geotechnology at the Technical University of Kosice, is responsible for implementing the project. According to the MP, he's also known for having been one of the sponsors of the Voice-SD party and the campaign of President Peter Pellegrini. Khouri is also an advisor to Education Ministry State Secretary Robert Zsembera. Gazovicova claims that two private companies are involved in the project and are receiving funding. "Evaluations have shown that they don't have sufficient track records or work experience in the very areas that this project concerns," she stated. According to MP Branislav Vanco (PS), Drucker must explain the conflict of interest. The party suspects criminal offences including corruption, abuse of public office, kickbacks, subsidy fraud, and harming of the EU's financial interests. am/df