The Betliar Manor is part of the Betliar Musuem. (source: TASR)
The year 2024 was a turbulent one when it comes to changes of directors of cultural institutions. One such was the Betliar Museum in south-eastern Slovakia.
Last November, former journalist and former spokesperson for the General Prosecutor’s Office Andrea Predajňová was appointed acting director after deputy director Erika Šmelková was dismissed in a humiliating manner. Director Tímea Mátéová is currently on maternity leave.
The museum employees expressed disagreement with the decision, criticising that it happened suddenly and without any prior discussion with them. "They are sending an unknown and unskilled person, whose ideas we know nothing about," they said in an open letter.
Predajňová graduated in history, worked as a lecturer at the Krásna Hôrka Castle and later at the puppet and toys museum at Modrý Kameň Castle.
At the end of February, the employees also filed an official complaint to the Slovak National Museum as well as to labour inspectorate, claiming that employees are discriminated, bullied and humiliated.
An octopus of fraud
Now, Culture Minister Martina Šimkovičová (SNS nominee) announced that "an octopus of fraud" was uncovered at the Betliar Museum, which manages Betliar Manor House, Krásna Hôrka Castle, and the Andrássy Mausoleum, by acting director Predajňová. She also accused the former director, art historian Július Barczi—now head of the Soga auction house in Bratislava—and the current director of having "abducted" it.
"They created a mechanism for getting money outside the country," the minister said, adding that the acting director was facing a coordinated discrediting campaign and harassment.
Predajňová accused Barczi of surrendering the museum's sovereignty to the civic association Andoras, where he had served first as vice-chair and later as a member. The Betliar Museum and the association were originally meant to collaborate on scientific research and public programming. However, since 2020, Andoras has also operated a souvenir shop on the premises without a lease agreement with the museum.
Culture Ministry Chief of Staff Lukáš Machala said that a criminal complaint on suspicion of a crime of public danger will be filed.
"And this is how the ministry will continue to do. Further civil lawsuits will follow," Machala said, adding that no one will do business with state money.
Possible legal action
In response, the employees reject the accusations.
"These false accusations were presented without any evidence and their aim was only to tarnish the good name of the former directors Július Barczi and Tímea Mátéová," they said.
"We are also deeply outraged and amazed by how Predajňová, who publicly claims to be a practicing Christian, can lie and not answer a question about whether she physically touched some of our colleagues," they continued, adding that if their complaints were not based on true facts, they would not have filed a complaint with the labour inspectorate and other authorities. The employees also claimed that Predajňová grabbed some museum employees by their nose and later were dismissed on the basis of their position becoming "ineffective" and "redundant".
Due to bullying on Predajňová's part, more employees have decided to leave.
Former director Barczi is also considering legal action in regards to accusations by Šimkovičová and Predajňová.
