A Bitcoin-related scandal has put the Czech government in danger.
Prime Minister Petr Fiara faces a call for a lack of confidence from the opposition following Justice Minister Pavel Blazek’s resignation.
The controversy comes from a Bitcoin donation tied to Tomáš Jirčikovský, a convicted criminal known for running the sheep market, a dark web platform previously used to sell illegal drugs.
In 2017, Zilchkovsky was sentenced for his role in running the market. A few years later, he donated Bitcoin to the Department of Justice at an auction worth 956.8 million CZK (approximately $45 million).
The origins of the donation sparked the rage of the people and elicited sharp criticism from lawmakers and citizens.
Blazic denied the misconduct and claimed he was unaware of the donor’s identity, but he resigned amid rising repulsion. He told reporters that he had no interest in the case for years and was unable to trace the origins of the donation when it was received.
Political pressure rises
Following these events, the opposition party led by former Prime Minister Andrej Babish has called for a vote of no confidence, saying the scandal reflects a deeper issue within the ruling coalition.
That’s assistant leader, Karel Havlichek, said the government should resign immediately and explain that the issue has shaken public trust.
In addition to the pressure, Czech MP Arena Sirerova accused current and former ministers of allowing criminals to make profits and escape tax debt. She described the scandal as a continuation of previous misconduct, insisting on adjustments at the highest level of government.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Fiara acknowledged the public’s concerns and promised a full investigation. He emphasized that the government will support law enforcement and intelligence reporting agencies in revealing all the facts.
Fiara also convened the State Security Council to assess its impact. He said:
“I fully understand the public’s concern that the state may have been misused through the Department of Justice to wash out the proceeds of criminal activities, for example. I am not underestimating these concerns.”
Meanwhile, Justice Minister Eva DeCriox, who replaced Brasic, reflected the Prime Minister’s stance. She pledged that the case would be thoroughly, ethical, legal and politically considered, and asserted anyone who determined that the perpetrator would be held liable.
She said:
“If it turns out that some people have made a mistake on this issue, they must be held accountable. In this spirit, I will take action on the department transparently and politically after appointment.”
(tagstotranslate)Bitcoin
