Former Czech PM loses case on secret police collaborating
Babis, who was not present at the court on Tuesday, has denied that.The verdict is final.Bratislavas regional court originally rejected the lawsuit in 2018, but the countrys Constitutional Court ordered a retrial, saying the institute could not be sued in the case and the respondent should be the Slovak Interior Ministry.Babis repeated Tuesday that he never cooperated with the secret police, known as StB, and vowed to continue defending himself in courts.Babis, a billionaire, is currently in opposition after his populist ANO centrist movement lost last years parliamentary election.
- Country:
- Slovakia
A Slovak court has dismissed a lawsuit by former Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis against allegations that he collaborated with Czechoslovakia's communist-era secret police.
The Slovak-born Babis was suing Slovakia's Institute of the Nation's Memory, which holds parts of his secret police files following the division of Czechoslovakia into the Czech Republic and Slovakia in 1993.
Some of the files were destroyed, but the institute said those that still exist contain evidence that Babis was an agent under the code name “Bures” from 1982. Babis, who was not present at the court on Tuesday, has denied that.
The verdict is final.
Bratislava's regional court originally rejected the lawsuit in 2018, but the country's Constitutional Court ordered a retrial, saying the institute could not be sued in the case and the respondent should be the Slovak Interior Ministry.
Babis repeated Tuesday that he “never cooperated” with the secret police, known as StB, and vowed to continue defending himself in courts.
Babis, a billionaire, is currently in opposition after his populist ANO centrist movement lost last year's parliamentary election. He's expected to announce whether he will run to be the Czech Republic's president in the election for the largely ceremonial post early next year.
(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
ALSO READ
Czechs to give tens of millions of euros for Ukraine ammunition plan, PM says
Czech Republic opens probe into Chinese diplomat accused of tailing Taiwanese Vice President-elect
A close ally of populist prime minister tops a pro-Western diplomat to become Slovakia''s president
Slovaks pick between Fico ally and pro-Western diplomat for president
Slovaks pick between Fico ally and pro-Western diplomat for president