The Slovak Spectator interviewed Penta Group founder Jaroslav Haščák on August 20 about apparent ties between the firm and Vladimír Lexa Sr, father of former secret service chief Ivan Lexa.
Jaroslav Haščák (JH): Let's get to the question which is bothering you. That was the aim of this meeting, as far as I understand.
TSS: What business have you had with him in the past?
JH: In real estate.
TSS: With the Ecoreal company?
JH: I don't remember the name of the company.
TSS: What was the nature of the deal?
JH: I'd have to check it out.
TSS: Which of Lexa's ideas do you agree with? Could you be more specific?
JH: No.
TSS: Political ideas? Economic ideas?
JH: I don't want to speak on his behalf or about something we haven't previously agreed.
TSS: I'm asking you to speak on your own behalf, about your own relations to Lexa.
JH: Speaking on my own behalf, what I have said is enough.
TSS: Who owns Penta Group?
JH: Penta Group in Slovakia is owned by Penta Holding in Cyprus. I, Jozef Oravkin, Marek Dospiva and Martin Kusík [all Penta Group founders] own the shares of Penta Holding.
TSS: If you have no relation to Lexa, how do you find yourself in proximity with people who allegedly helped his son's secret service [SIS] carry out a kidnapping, or with a firm like securities trader Istrokapitál, which seems more closely linked?
JH: I doubt whether anyone at Istrokapitál knows Lexa Sr.
TSS: Then how do you explain all the connections to SIS people?
JH: They know [former head of special operations at the SIS] Michal H., and all these other people are friends of Michal H.. I doubt that Lexa Sr knows Michal H.
