Slovak interior minister on show with wanted neo-Nazi conspiracy theorist

Interior Minister Matúš Šutaj Eštok (Hlas) has appeared on a show hosted by a neo-Nazi conspiracy theorist wanted by Slovak police on charges of extremism.

The minister's appearance on the internet show hosted by Daniel Bombic, also known as Danny Kollár, who lives in the UK, was pointed out by opposition Progresívne Slovensko MP Jaroslav Spišiak.

"I thought I had seen everything, but the Interior Minister talking with an internationally wanted extremist is a first," said Spišiak .

"Šutaj Eštok has once again dumped the police. First, the rank-and-file policemen who investigated Danko's [car] accident were reprimanded. Now he nods like an excited teenager to a person who has attacked rank-and-file policemen for years," Spišiak said.

He added that Bombic had revealed names of police officers who had taken action against aggressive individuals in a grocery shop during the Covid-19 pandemic. One faced online bullying as a result.

The MP called the appearance 'a world-class shame'.

According to investigative journalism group Bellingcat, Bombic spreads anti-Semitic tropes, performs with neo-Nazi pop bands and promotes pro-Russian disinformation.

The interior minister claimed on Thursday that he rejects any extremist views and violence, noting that he has no problem with talking to anybody.

"Moreover, there's the presumption of innocence," the minister told the press.

Before the 2023 September election, several representatives of the main governing coalition party Smer, including current Prime Minister Robert Fico and Defence Minister Robert Kaliňák, appeared on Bombic's internet show. SNS head Andrej Danko met him in London.

But according to the interior minister, he did not talk to Bombic.

"There were about 50 people. At some point, he asked about two questions," Šutaj Eštok said.

Bombic is currently facing charges of extremism and unauthorized handling of personal data in Slovakia. A British court is expected to rule on a request for his extradition at the end of this month.