PS Will Propose Parliamentary Inquiry into FPU over Wiretapping Scandal

Bratislava, 18 July (TASR) - The opposition Progressive Slovakia (PS) party will address the wiretapping case at the Arts Support Fund (FPU) during a meeting of the parliamentary culture and media committee, proposing a parliamentary inquiry into FPU, TASR was told by Katarina Kopcanova from the PS media department. "I believe that this time our coalition colleagues will not want to cover up the surveillance of employees and will approve the inquiry," said PS MP Zora Jaurova. Listening devices have allegedly been found by Arts Support Fund employees on FPU's premises, head of the FPU Director's Office Daniela Jahnova has confirmed for TASR, adding that law-enforcement authorities are investigating the matter. It was Joj television channel which first broke the news that FPU employees had found the devices under their office desks. According to a statement signed by FPU director Frantisek Kornaj that was provided to TASR on Thursday (16 July), FPU has never engaged in monitoring or wiretapping its employees. The statement claimed that both the timing and manner in which these allegations became public are an attempt to damage the fund and its leadership. In this connection, the Culture Ministry has told TASR that addressing these allegations falls entirely within the remit of the relevant law-enforcement authorities and, where appropriate, FPU's internal processes. The Regional Prosecutor's Office in Bratislava has confirmed for TASR that a criminal complaint concerning this matter was referred to the Criminal Police Department of Bratislava I District Police Corps Directorate for further proceedings. Bratislava regional police told TASR that police officers from Bratislava I District Police Corps Directorate are dealing with a complaint concerning the suspected offence of violating the confidentiality of oral communications and other communications of a personal nature. Culture Minister Martina Simkovicova (a Slovak National Party/SNS nominee) rejected attempts to link her to the FPU wiretapping scandal, claiming that she has nothing to do with the entire matter and considers it to be unacceptable for unfounded personal connections to be drawn even before the circumstances of the case have been properly clarified. jrg