Košice Region Paid Millions for Market Site That Remains Overgrown Despite Modernization Promises

The Košice Self-Governing Region, under former governor Rastislav Trnka, paid millions of euros for land intended to replace the aging Blšák market with a modern facility, but the purchased plots have since become overgrown with vegetation. Trnka, who served as regional governor from 2001 to 2017, had promised to develop a contemporary marketplace to replace the existing Blšák market, a popular trading venue in Košice. However, years after the land acquisition, no construction has begun and the expensive plots remain unused. The current regional administration says it is taking preparatory steps toward development, though no concrete timeline has been provided for when the promised modern market facility might actually be built.