AT THE END of this week, the Culture Ministry will put up two buildings for sale in Bratislava’s historic district: the headquarters of the Slovak National Theatre (SND) and the P.O. Hviezdoslav theatre, both of which are currently owned and operated by the SND.
The circumstances surrounding the P.O. Hviezdoslav theatre building is causing some to say that the state has already determined a buyer for the building: Eric Assimakopoulos, whose company, Bifrost Investment Group, is currently managing the reconstruction of a neighbouring building.
The P.O. Hviezdoslav theatre building has been valued at Sk236 million (€6.13 million). The reconstruction of the neighbouring building, once owned by VUB bank, will likely increase the theatre’s worth.
The current owner of the building under reconstruction is unknown. Assimakopoulos refuses to say whether he is the owner. Assimakopoulos was once the Economy Ministry’s top pick for buying the so-called “new” SND building, a mammoth modern building near the Danube River that has been under construction for decades.
Culture Minister František Tôth refused allegations that the buyer of the P.O. Hviezdoslav theatre building has already decided. The sale of the theatre and SND’s headquarters will be the subject of a public tender process.
"We don't play games. I can assure you that only price will be the decisive factor [in winning the tender]," Tôth told the SME daily.
Compiled by Magdalena MacLeod from press reports
TheSlovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the informationpresented in its Flash News postings.
