Slovakia’s largest police corruption trial has been greenlit, yet its very foundations are under siege—from inside the government. The Specialised Criminal Court has accepted an indictment in Operation “Purgatory”, a landmark case accusing top police officials and political allies of protecting criminal networks in exchange for bribes. Among the eleven defendants are the former police chief Tibor Gašpar and oligarch Norbert Bödör, both publicly backed by Prime Minister Robert Fico and his ruling Smer–SD party. As court proceedings inch forward amid relentless obstruction, the case has become a test of whether Slovakia’s justice system can resist political interference—or whether elite impunity will triumph once again.
Slovakia’s Specialised Criminal Court has formally accepted an indictment in Operation “Purgatory”, a sprawling anti-corruption case targeting alleged collusion between high-ranking police officials, businessmen, and political actors. The case, one of the most significant in post-communist Slovak history, implicates eleven individuals, including a former police chief and a politically connected oligarch. Yet the path to justice has been repeatedly obstructed by legal manoeuvres, political interference, and public attacks on investigators—laying bare the fragile state of the rule of law in the country.
Political actors challenge prosecutors and back indicted allies
Among the defendants is Tibor Gašpar, Slovakia’s former National Police President and now a prominent figure aligned with the ruling party, Smer–SD. Gašpar faces charges linked to a criminal network that allegedly used the police as a shield for corrupt activity. Despite his indictment, Gašpar has taken a confrontational stance, repeatedly criticising police investigators and prosecutors, including through public appearances where he discredits their work and private communications.
One of his principal targets is Ján Čurilla, a senior investigator central to numerous corruption probes launched after the 2020 elections. Gašpar has used press conferences to undermine Čurilla’s credibility, attacking what he calls the investigators’ “black humour” and procedural conduct—moves viewed by legal experts as an attempt to sow public distrust in the judiciary.
The political dimension of the case was further intensified when Prime Minister Robert Fico, leader of Smer–SD, welcomed co-defendant Norbert Bödör, a powerful businessman with ties to the previous government, to the Government Office. A video of their meeting was widely circulated, signalling tacit endorsement of Bödör and reinforcing concerns of politicised meddling in ongoing judicial proceedings.
Legal obstruction and manipulation of the judicial process
Gašpar and other defendants have sought to derail the trial through procedural objections. They lodged repeated challenges to court personnel, leading to the disqualification of judges such as Ján Hrubala and Ján Giertli. Only after these delays was the court able to constitute a new panel, presided over by Judge Peter Pulman, which accepted the indictment on 25 March 2024.
The defence has also argued that the prosecution failed to disclose all benefits provided to cooperating witnesses, alleging that testimony may have been influenced or scripted. Further motions sought to transform the format of proceedings, demanding a public session to interrogate prosecutors and police officers before moving to trial.
In early March 2024, Gašpar’s legal team filed yet another petition to reject the indictment and return the case to the preliminary stage. Citing recent changes to Slovakia’s criminal code, the defence requested that one count of serious bribery be reclassified as a lesser charge of “indirect corruption,” which would substantially reduce potential penalties.
The reaction from Smer–SD insiders reveals growing unease within the ruling party. Erik Kaliňák, chief adviser to Prime Minister Fico and a vocal defender of party interests, lashed out at independent journalists during a press conference. Responding to questions about Gašpar’s indictment, he mocked reporters from Denník N, a leading investigative outlet, implying they were financially incentivised to criticise the government. Such rhetoric exemplifies the escalating attacks on media and judicial independence under the current administration.
Strategic implications and erosion of judicial independence
The case’s significance extends far beyond individual culpability. At its core, Operation Purgatory has been portrayed by prosecutors as revealing a criminal ecosystem within law enforcement, where officers allegedly protected allies and suppressed investigations in exchange for bribes. If the charges are substantiated in court, the trial could set a landmark precedent for anti-corruption efforts in Central Europe.
Yet its progress remains threatened by political interference. Gašpar, for instance, has expressed hope that a future General Prosecutor, such as David Lindtner—a former judge with ties to Smer–SD—might reassign the case or drop charges altogether, leading to acquittals without trial. Such a scenario would not only undermine public trust but risk normalising elite impunity.
This dynamic fits a broader pattern of democratic erosion observed in parts of Central and Eastern Europe, where populist governments exploit legal loopholes and personnel changes to protect loyalists and silence dissent. As international actors monitor the integrity of rule-of-law reforms in EU member states, the trajectory of this case will serve as a critical benchmark for assessing Slovakia’s democratic resilience.
Source: Monika Tódová | Denník N
