Independent MPs Peter Zajac and Ondrej Dostál (both of the Civic Conservative Party (OKS)) want the situation at the Nation’s Memory Institute (ÚPN) to be debated at the next session of the parliamentary committee for minorities and human rights on January 26, the MPs announced on Wednesday, January 18.
Nine employees of the ÚPN who took part in drafting the amendment to the law on the UPN are being fired. They include Marián Gula and Patrik Dubovský, who both co-operated closely with founder Ján Langoš in the past. “OKS believes the politically motivated dismissal of founder Ján Langoš’ close associates questions the institute’s purpose and tramples on Langoš’ legacy,” said Zajac and Dostál, as reported by the TASR newswire. According to ÚPN head Ivan Petranský, the dismissals are not a political purge but are simply caused by the institute’s limited resources for salaries and contributions. He said that if the ÚPN gets more funding he will be ready to re-evaluate the layoffs.
“He [Petranský] is being diplomatic when he says that he might re-evaluate the dismissals,” said Dostál, adding that he is personally convinced that there are at least three or four people the ÚPN head is trying to get rid off.
“It concerns women whose work involved the information flow and databases from the ŠtB [communist-era secret police] and people like me, who were actively involved in drafting the amendment to the law on the ÚPN,” said Dubovský. “The notices are due to come into effect on February 1, with a three-month notice period. After that, we are prepared to file a collective lawsuit,” he added.
Germany’s Konrad Adenauer Foundation (KAS), which has cooperated with the ÚPN since it was established in 2002, will now cease such work. “The decision not to continue cooperating with the ÚPN is our demonstration of solidarity with the institute’s employees, whose positions and work we have always appreciated but who have become redundant for the current management of the institute,” said Agáta Pešková, KAS Deputy Director in Slovakia, as reported by the SITA newswire.
Sources: TASR, SITA
Compiled by Zuzana Vilikovská from press reports
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information presented in its Flash News postings.
