Kotleba thus responded to a criminal complaint filed against him by independent MP Miroslav Beblavý claiming that all nominees at the regional self government and employees of the regional road administration must transfer 20 percent of their salaries to Kotleba’s bank account.
“The governor confessed to journalists that he knew about the support on the part of his employees, stating that he would not object to it,” Beblavý said, as quoted by the TASR newswire. “The donations also go towards supporting political activities, however. A public official cannot accept such kinds of donations.”
Kotleba claims that the activities of his supporters do not relate to his post of governor. At an extraordinary session of the regional government on January 30 Kotleba stated that he views the contributions as gifts. Some of his subordinates are transferring part of their salaries to his private account, with a figure of 20 percent being mentioned.
Kotleba plans to invest the money in an excavator that he will use to clean up his property on which an illegal Roma settlement at Krásnohorské Podhradie in Rožňava district stands. Kotleba acquired the land in 2012 when the settlement was already standing and soon after local Roma children accidently caused a large fire at the nearby Krásna Hôrska castle.
The Pravda reports that Kotleba needs a total of €50,000 for the clean-up but he does not have that kind of money.
“I view these gifts exclusively in the context of my civic activity,” Kotleba said, as quoted by Pravda. “I’ve never accepted and never planned to accept any gift in relation to my post of Banská Bystrica regional governor.”
According to councillor Andrea Bániková having become a governor Kotleba cannot consider himself to be a civic activist.
“Bodies active in criminal proceedings should at least check whether this is or isn’t an abuse of the powers of a public authority,” said criminal law expert Lucia Kurilovská, as quoted by Pravda.
Kotleba thus responded on criminal complaint filed against him by independent MP Miroslav Beblavý claiming that all nominees at the regional self government and employees of the regional road administration must transfer 20 percent of their salaries on Kotleba’s bank account.
“The governor confessed to journalists that he knew about the support on the part of his employees, stating that he would not object to it,” Beblavý said, as quoted by the TASR newswire. “The donations also go towards supporting political activities, however. A public official cannot accept such kinds of donations.”
Kotleba claims that the activities of his supporters do not relate to his post of governor. At an extraordinary session of the regional government on January 30 Kotleba stated that he views the contributions as gifts. Some of his subordinates are transferring part of their salaries to his private account, with a figure of 20 percent being mentioned.
Kotleba plans to invest the money in a digger that he will use to clean up his property on which an illegal Roma settlement at Krásnohorské Podhradie in Rožňava district stands. Kotleba acquired the land in 2012 when the settlement was already standing and soon after local Roma children accidently caused a large fire at the nearby Krásna Hôrska castle.
The Pravda reports that Kotleba needs a total of €50,000 for the clean-up but he does not have that kind of money.
“I view these gifts exclusively in the context of my civic activity,” Kotleba said, as quoted by Pravda. “I’ve never accepted and never planned to accept any gift in relation to my post of Banská Bystrica region governor.”
According to councillor Andrea Bániková having become a governor Kotleba cannot consider himself to be a civic activist.
“Bodies active in criminal proceedings should at least check whether this is or isn’t an abuse of the powers of a public authority,” said criminal law expert Lucia Kurilovská, as quoted by Pravda.
