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Bar Association condemns attacks on ombudsman
🇸🇰 Slovakia /Conflict & Security

Bar Association condemns attacks on ombudsman

From SME · () Slovak

Translated from Slovak, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • The Slovak Bar Association (SAK) strongly condemns attacks and threats against the ombudsman, Róbert Dobrovodský.
  • SAK stated that politicians publicly attacking a constitutional official for performing their duties is unacceptable in a democracy.
  • The ombudsman requested police protection after receiving threats related to his challenge of church registration rules.

The Slovak Bar Association (SAK) has issued a strong condemnation of recent attacks and public questioning of the legitimacy of Ombudsman Róbert Dobrovodský's office. The association denounced the threats directed at Dobrovodský in connection with his exercise of constitutional powers, emphasizing that such actions have no place in a democratic society.

SAK highlighted that the ombudsman is a constitutional body responsible for protecting fundamental rights and freedoms. The association stressed that Dobrovodský's decision to challenge the legal compliance of regulations concerning the registration of churches and religious societies was a legitimate exercise of his authority. "In a democratic and rule-of-law state, it is unacceptable for politicians to publicly attack a constitutional official for performing their legal and constitutional powers," SAK stated.

In a democratic and rule-of-law state, it is unacceptable for politicians to publicly attack a constitutional official for performing their legal and constitutional powers.

— Slovak Bar Association (SAK)Statement condemning attacks on the ombudsman.

The association also deemed it unacceptable for the ombudsman to face hate speech or threats for fulfilling his duties. While SAK acknowledges that differing legal opinions may exist regarding the ombudsman's specific decisions or proposals, it considers any form of pressure or intimidation against law enforcement bodies in the execution of their lawful powers to be inadmissible.

Dobrovodský himself reported on social media that he had requested police protection for his colleagues due to the nature of the threats received by his office. He described the attacks as "extremely serious and unacceptable." These threats emerged after he filed a motion with the Constitutional Court challenging the conditions for registering new churches, particularly the requirement of 50,000 members, a condition supported by Interior Minister Matúš Šutaj Eštok but questioned by Defense Minister Robert Kaliňák.

Such attacks are extremely serious and unacceptable.

— Róbert DobrovodskýOmbudsman describing the threats he received.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by SME in Slovak. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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