The case of alleged tunnelling of the former Military Intelligence Service (VSS) is a dangerous media hoax that has been threatening the interests of the state, the functioning of military intelligence and the lives of its members, Defence Minister Martin Glváč told the press on May 24. According to him, the document that allegedly provides evidence of shady transfers of property is inauthentic, the TASR newswire reported.
Glváč claims that the materials, acquired by the Sme daily and published on May 16, are a mere compilation of facts, misinformation and purpose-built and untrue opinions.
“It is demonstrable that no tunnelling has taken place and that this report was created with bad intentions, regardless of the consequences, with the aim of discrediting the current leadership of Military Intelligence (VS),” Glváč said, as quoted by TASR.
Therefore, the Defence Ministry is ready to file a criminal complaint against all those who have spread this untrue information. This mainly concerns former VSS director Roman Mikulec, alleged author of the report Vladimír Suchodolinský, and formed defence minister and current Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) MP Ľubomír Galko, Glváč added.
A 134-page report alleges large-scale embezzlement of public funds by employees at the former VSS during the first government of Robert Fico (2006-2010). Sme says it received the document anonymously, and that it is probably based on an internal investigation into the VSS that started under Galko.
The report includes information about the purchase and reconstruction of an expensive residential property in Bratislava, which the state sold at a loss to a former VSS officer. Both of the then heads of the two military intelligence agencies – Juraj Šebo of the VSS and Ľubomír Skuhra of the Military Defence Intelligence (VOS) counterintelligence agency – allegedly knew about the transactions. The VSS and VOS have since been merged to the VS.
Galko responded to Glváč’s statements that the ruling Smer party has to be in really dire straits if it is desperate enough to threaten criminal complaints for spreading information on alleged tunnelling in the VSS, he said on May 24. He also rejected all the accusations, saying that “it is just their attempt to cover up this Smer mega-scandal”, as reported by TASR.
“I will consider legal moves in reaction to this wicked accusation,” Galko added.
Meanwhile, the chair of the parliamentary committee, which oversees the activities of the military intelligence, and Slovak Democratic and Christian Union (SDKÚ) MP Martin Fedor said that there is another witness in the case, who is a former senior VSS official.
“This person wants to provide evidence to contribute to the discussion on the matter,” Fedor said, as quoted by TASR. “He has provided some written documents that indicate that he participated in the investigation into the [shady property transfers] which may show that even more such machinations took place.”
Glváč did not comment on this information, TASR wrote.
The defence committee earlier in the day officially asked the defence minister to submit a report on the alleged machinations at the former military intelligence service by May 28.
Source: TASR
For more information about this story please see: Spy agency embroiled in corruption claims
Compiled by Radka Minarechová from press reports
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information presented in its Flash News postings.
