Slovakia's Fund for the Support of Arts embroiled in leaked recording alleging political pressure

A recording obtained by the portal 360tka captures Františko Kornaj, director of the Fund for the Support of Arts (FPU), saying he receives directives from higher authorities to allocate subsidies and mentioning Lukáš Machala, the general secretary of the Ministry of Culture. Kornaj warns that signing certain documents could lead to his imprisonment.

The tape, taken with a listening device placed in the FPU building, has prompted calls from MPs Roman Malatinec and Pavel Ľupták for the dismissal of the entire FPU board if the allegations are verified. Machala has described the claims as speculation. The former chair of the FPU council, Matúš Oľha, left the meeting abruptly, and the source of the recording remains unclear. An investigation is underway.