“Unprecedented threats” against Supreme Court judges

Public attacks against judges, including judges of the Supreme Court, over their decision-making are unacceptable and extremely dangerous. Supreme Court chair Jan Sikuta declared in response to Prime Minister Robert Fico's statements on Thursday. Sikuta calls on public officials to exercise caution when making statements that might damage the name of the entire judiciary and the community of judges.

"In case anyone possesses evidence of unlawful conduct, even the conduct of a judge, they should follow the law and report these findings to law enforcement bodies," added Supreme Court spokesperson Alexandra Vazanova.

Prime Minister Robert Fico stated on Thursday that it was Supreme Court Juraj Kliment's senate that made decisions in cases challenged by the Prime Minister, such as the decision to take Fico's current legal advisor Marek Para into police custody. The Constitutional Court later ruled that that decision was unconstitutional.

Attorney Marek Para has long represented Marian Kočner, including in the case of the murder orders of a journalist and prosecutors. He is convinced of his client's innocence and the first appeals court has already found him right twice. After the written reasons for the acquittal, the prosecution appealed to the Supreme Court.

Supreme Court judge Juraj Kliment perceives statements by Fico and MP Tibor Gaspar as a "direct and completely unsubstantiated attack against the independence of the judiciary" and pointed out the fact that Gaspar himself faces criminal prosecution.

"I don't know of any other EU state where politicians in power call judges of the Supreme Court, without any court verdict to back it up, a part of a criminal group," said Kliment.

In light of this, Kliment called on the Judicial Council, Parliament and all Slovak judges to take a vehement objection against such an "unprecedented threats made against judges of the Supreme Court". "And it's up to the Prosecutor-General to consider whether such statements and slander don't constitute a criminal activity as well," remarked Kliment.

Former justice minister and opposition MP Maria Kolikova has called this an attempt to bully politically inconvenient judges. "This is unacceptable and must be condemned," she claimed, warning that only the Supreme Administrative Court can address the case, based on a qualified motion.

TASR, RTVS