Czech ex‑justice minister Pavel Blažek faces prison term in Bitcoin case

The Czech Constitutional Court is set to rule on nine complaints lodged by participants in the so‑called Bitcoin scandal, including former justice minister Pavel Blažek, former deputy Radomír Daňhel, cryptocurrency donor Tomáš Jiřikovský and lawyer Kárim Titz. The complaints challenge procedural decisions by criminal investigators, such as the handling of pre‑trial detention.

The state prosecutor has charged Blažek, Daňhel, Jiřikovský and Titz with money‑laundering and abuse of office over a 960 million‑koruna (about €40 million) Bitcoin donation to the Justice Ministry in March 2025. Prosecutors seek 6½ years of imprisonment for Blažek and Daňhel, eight years for Titz, and up to 20 years for Jiřikovský, plus additional terms for related offenses. Blažek denies any wrongdoing, calling the accusations “fabrications and lies.” The case has drawn criticism for alleged violations of defendants’ procedural rights and for pressure to secure testimony against co‑accused parties.