Slovak Prosecutor Who Charged Police Chief in Major Corruption Case Removed Before Trial

Prosecutor Michal Šúrek lost control of the Očistec corruption case in summer 2024 when he was charged by Slovakia's police inspection unit, preventing him from attending the trial that finally begins on May 11. Šúrek filed the original charges more than four years ago against former police chief Tibor Gašpar and others in what became known as the Očistec case, one of Slovakia's major corruption investigations. Gašpar, who was police president when charged, has since become deputy speaker of parliament representing Smer-SD, the ruling social-democratic party, and regularly uses public platforms to defend himself against the allegations. The prosecutor maintains he stands behind his original indictment but expressed regret that he cannot defend his work in court, highlighting concerns about the timing of his removal just as the long-delayed trial was set to begin.