BRATISLAVA, October 24, (WEBNOVINY) — Prosecutors are working in line with the law although the prosecutor general post has been vacant for some eight months. Acting Prosecutor General Ladislav Tichy specified that postponing of the appointment of the parliament-elected prosecutor general has changed nothing with the operation of the prosecution service. Interior Minister Daniel Lipsic however holds a different opinion when he remarked at the week’s close that the situation with prosecution service is not simple. Tichy underscored that individual prosecutors know what they are supposed to do because they act in accordance with the law on prosecution service, the Penal Order, and other legal directives that define their duties. According to him, prosecutors are skilled professionals who know what to do. “It does not matter whether they have a prosecutor general or not or whether there is turbulence in society or not,” stated Tichy. The acting prosecutor general underscored that even according to the decision of the Constitutional Court, during the interregnum he substitutes the prosecutor general in all his competencies. “There is not an area of the law in which the prosecution service is active where I would not be able to express my opinion, sign individual decisions, or provide stances,” Tichy specified.
Tichy says that people continue turning to them with trust while prosecutors act as the law requires them to act. After the conclusion of an investigation, they file lawsuits or stop the case, which is their jurisdiction. Tichy underscored that in some areas they have even stronger jurisdictions than last year.
Last week, Interior Minister Daniel Lipsic said that the situation with the prosecution service is not simple but he admitted they have good cooperation with special prosecutors. He said that the state at the Prosecutor General Office is far from inspiring and he would find it good if the situation stabilized there. Tichy underscored in his reply that the Special Prosecutor Office is part of the Prosecutor General Office. He also pointed out that units of the interior departments are in primary contact with district prosecutors in criminal prosecution while the Prosecutor General Office only then supervises some matters including examination of decisions. “I cannot agree that the Prosecutor General Office should develop more or less activities in this situation,” stated Tichy.
SITA