Vladimír Mečiar has reason to celebrate. (source: Sme - Pavol Funtál)
For 19 years, politicians and activists have been trying to abolish the controversial amnesties instated by Vladimír Mečiar. Just a few months after they succeeded, the police have said that they will not prosecute Mečiar in connection to the amnesties, as the statute of limitations has expired.
Mečiar issued the amnesties as acting president in 1998. They relate to the abduction of then-president Michal Kováč’s son and the 1996 murder of Robert Remiáš, who served as a contact for a key witness of the abduction. The amnesties also involve the thwarted referendum of 1997.
The police had initiated an investigation into the issuance of the amnesties in mid-July, after the Constitutional Court confirmed at its May 31 private session that it has rescinded the immunity from prosecution for actions linked to the abduction.
"It is obvious that prime minister [Mečiar] was not following the request to be restrained in issuing amnesties during the time when he was acting president, but, contrary, he seriously abused it [power] immediately after he took the post." Constitutional Court judges wrote in the commentary accompanying their decision.
