Hidden eavesdropping devices found in Arts Support Fund offices
Employees of the Slovak Arts Support Fund have discovered hidden eavesdropping devices in several offices. The devices recorded private conversations of workers. Police and the prosecutor's office are investigating the case.
Hidden eavesdropping devices found in Arts Support Fund offices
Employees of the Arts Support Fund (FPU) in Slovakia have discovered hidden eavesdropping devices at their workplaces. Police and the district prosecutor's office in the capital are already investigating the matter.
The chance discovery occurred during a technical malfunction on a computer. One of the female employees bent down under the table and found a device that did not belong there. A subsequent inspection revealed that there were more devices – they were located in several offices and recorded private conversations of staff.
According to anonymous statements from employees, during the critical period in May, only the current director František Kornaj had keys to all the affected rooms. The motive was reportedly to monitor workers and to find out who was cooperating with the Open Culture initiative, which has long been critical of the steps taken by the Ministry of Culture.
"The information shocked us, we see it as further confirmation of the decay of institutions," said Rastislav Vadas from this platform.
Kornaj did not respond to journalists' questions. He shut the door on a JOJ television reporter and subsequently limited communication to a brief message: "Have a nice day."
The Ministry of Culture, which is the founding body of the fund, stated that it has no information about the case and referred the matter to the bodies active in criminal proceedings. These have already begun investigating the matter, and the district prosecutor's office in Bratislava is also handling the case.
Meanwhile, employees handed over to police both the devices themselves and the recorded recordings. According to them, the atmosphere at the workplace has been extremely tense and distrustful since the discovery.
Source: Novinky.cz