A report on the ongoing investigation into the Gorilla file – a document purportedly written by the SIS intelligence service and pointing to corruption and cronyism in politics and business in Slovakia in 2005-6 – probably will not be presented during the current session of parliament, opposition caucus chairmen confirmed to the TASR newswire on Thursday, August 2, after meeting Speaker of Parliament Pavol Paška (Smer).
The report is now supposed to be formally presented by Interior Minister Robert Kaliňák at the September session. The reason behind the move is objections raised by legal representatives of the Penta financial group's co-owner Jaroslav Haščák, whose name features extensively in the file. According to his lawyers, it is unacceptable to have the interior minister intervening in the criminal prosecution and informing lawmakers about the status of the investigation.
Kaliňák, however, said he is determined not to back down. "I think that the investigation team leader, as well as the Special Prosecutor, are perfectly aware of how to formulate and draft this report. Therefore, I will present the report in that form in parliament," Kaliňák said, as quoted by TASR.
Source: TASR
Compiled by Zuzana Vilikovská from press reports
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information presented in its Flash News postings.
