POLICE experts have confirmed the authenticity of a controversial video recording of a conversation between Pavol Rusko, the chairman of the former coalition New Citizen's Alliance (ANO) party, and a former ANO MP, Iveta Henzélyová, the Attorney General's Office confirmed on November 29.
The confirmation proves that Henzélyová, now an independent MP, lied because initially, when Rusko published the recording, she denied the authenticity of the recording.
Jana Tökölyová, spokeswoman with the Attorney General's Office, told the TASR news agency that a prosecutor was now dealing with the case, under the supervision of the Special Prosecutor's Office.
At Rusko's request, the police originally began an investigation into suspected bribery and blackmail. Rusko submitted the tape, which suggests corruption in the Slovak parliament, to the Bratislava police on November 9.
On the recording, Henzélyová talks about certain people that were "sent by our folks" to bribe her, offering various benefits in exchange for her vote in parliament, including paying for the reconstruction of her house.
The Anti-Corruption Office also launched an investigation into possible blackmail. It is unclear, however, who is supposed to have been blackmailed.
According to TASR, Henzélyová will only comment on the case after consulting with her lawyer.
Speaker of Parliament Pavol Hrušovský, who is also the chairman of the ruling Christian Democratic Movement, said that he would comment on the case when the investigation is over.
Béla Bugár, the chairman of the ruling Hungarian Coalition Party, thinks that more things in this case need to be clarified before his party takes a stand on the case.
"It is one thing for the recording to be found to be authentic, but the question remains as to whether the whole thing was stage-managed or not," he said.
PM Mikuláš Dzurinda said that he would not interfere in the case, adding that it was up to the respective authorities to carry out their investigations.
- Martina Jurinová
