Latest verdict may reverse similar lawsuits against ÚPN

One of the cases also involves the dispute with current Czech Finance Minister Andrej Babiš, based on witnesses whose confidentiality wasn't lifted.

The building of the Nation's Memory InstituteThe building of the Nation's Memory Institute (Source: SME)

The Nation’s Memory Institute (ÚPN) has received a court decision that might represent a watershed reversal in all lawsuits initiated against it.

The Bratislava Regional Court accepted an appeal by ÚPN and overturned a previous verdict of a first-instance court according to which the institute inappropriately registered plaintiff Dušan Kubovčák as an agent of the communist-era State Security (ŠtB). The original verdict of the Bratislava I District Court was based on the testimonies of a number of former ŠtB agents, said Peter Juščák, spokesperson for ÚPN.

SkryťTurn off ads
Article continues after video advertisement
SkryťTurn off ads
Article continues after video advertisement

SkryťTurn off ads

“The Bratislava I District Court committed a grave procedural error in acquiring evidence unlawfully from the questioning of witnesses, former members of ŠtB ... who weren’t stripped of confidentiality as witnesses before their questioning,” Juščák cited the text of the latest decision, as quoted by the TASR newswire.

Read also: Babiš wins over ÚPN, for good Read more 

ÚPN is currently embroiled in nine lawsuits over registration in ŠtB archives, six of them at Bratislava courts. The courts in the past ruled based on the testimonies of former ŠtB agents who were not stripped of confidentiality in dozens of cases, according to Juščák. Only the Interior Minister can lift their obligation to maintain confidentiality.

“Testimonies of former ŠtB agents are quite untrustworthy,” said ÚPN Administrative Board chair Ondrej Krajňák, as quoted by TASR, adding that ÚPN should not allow former ŠtB agents to enjoy greater trust in Slovak courts than historical documents in archives. “Our history shouldn’t be rewritten by people who were affiliated with criminal organisation the ŠtB during the era of communism.”

SkryťTurn off ads

ÚPN expects the verdict of Bratislava Regional Court to represent a milestone reversal and one likely to influence other lawsuits that the institute faces.

One of them includes the dispute with the owner of Agrofert group and Czech Finance Minister Andrej Babiš in which the court heard three former ŠtB agents without lifting their obligation to maintain confidentiality. The ÚPN complained about the fact in its appeal submitted to the Supreme Court, TASR reported.

Top stories

Janka, a blogger, during the inauguration of the first flight to Athens with Aegean Airlines at the airport in Bratislava on September 14, 2023.

A Czech rail operator connects Prague and Ukraine, Dominika Cibulková endorses Pellegrini, and Bratislava events.


Píšem or pišám?

"Do ľava," (to the left) I yelled, "Nie, do prava" (no, to the right), I gasped. "Dolšie," I screamed. "Nie, nie, horšie..." My Slovak girlfriend collapsed in laughter. Was it something I said?


Matthew J. Reynolds
Czech biochemist Jan Konvalinka.

Jan Konvalinka was expecting a pandemic before Covid-19 came along.


SkryťClose ad