Slovak Arts Fund entangled in illegal listening-device scandal

In July 2026 employees of the Fund for the Support of Arts (FPU) discovered covert listening devices hidden in several office desks. The devices were reportedly intended to record private conversations of staff members. Police and the Bratislava District Prosecutor’s Office have taken over the case, which is still at the pre‑investigation stage.

Minister of Culture Martina Šimkovičová denied any personal involvement, stating she will act once the investigation clarifies responsibility. The fund’s director František Kornaj has not commented. Opposition parties, including the Slovak National Party and Hnutie Slovensko, have called for a parliamentary committee inquiry and an independent security audit of the ministry’s premises. Legal experts note that secret audio recording of personal conversations can constitute a breach of confidentiality under Slovak law, potentially punishable by up to two years’ imprisonment if the recorded material is unlawfully used or disclosed.

The scandal has sparked a broader debate about workplace surveillance, workers’ rights and the limits of employer‑authorised monitoring in Slovakia.