Constitutional Court rules rights violation in Jiřikovský bitcoin case

The Constitutional Court of the Czech Republic has ruled that the Brno Regional Court violated the rights of Tomáš Jiřikovský, a central figure in a major cryptocurrency investigation. The court found that the defense was denied a fair opportunity to respond to statements made by prosecutors during a detention extension hearing.

Despite this ruling, Jiřikovský will remain in custody. While the Constitutional Court annulled the specific decision from May, previous detention orders remain valid, and a new indictment filed in early August necessitates further judicial review regarding his continued imprisonment.

The case involves allegations that Jiřikovský, a former darknet market operator, donated cryptocurrency of questionable origin—valued at nearly one billion CZK—to the Ministry of Justice as part of a money laundering scheme. Prosecutors are seeking a 20-year prison sentence for Jiřikovský. The investigation also involves former Minister of Justice Pavel Blažek, his former deputy Radomír Daňhel, and lawyer Karim Titze, all of whom deny wrongdoing.