Andrej Babiš cleared of spying accusations
The Slovakian Ministry of the Interior and Czech opposition leader Andrej Babiš have struck a deal that clears Babiš of accusations that he was a spy for the Czechoslovak State Security (StB) during the communist era. Babiš had previously sought but failed to have a court in Bratislava rule that he had been listed in the files as an unofficial employee without his knowledge.
Fico returning favours
It's no coincidence that this deal has been struck now, Reflex surmises:
“On October 25 it will be exactly one year since Robert Fico's cabinet took office in Slovakia. Andrej Babiš was among those who vociferously supported the return of the three-time head of government to office. ... He didn't support Fico and his Smer party directly but via the shadow party Hlas, led by Peter Pellegrini, who has been working with Fico for over 20 years. And now his support has paid off in both the parliamentary and presidential elections. The Slovakian Ministry of the Interior reached an agreement with Babiš and confirmed that he had been illegally listed in the StB files. ... Andrej Babiš can pat himself on the back: he bet on the right horse.”
Political deals can't change the facts
Denník N notes:
“For more than a decade, Andrej Babiš tried to whitewash his past. First, he sued the Nation's Memory Institute (ÚPN), which published historical records about Babiš being under contract to the state security service during communism. When he lost in court, he sued the Ministry of the Interior, which has now given in. ... Even after the deal that has now been reached, however, the ÚPN still insists that several chronologically ordered files prove the authenticity of the records on Babiš as a security service employee. 'The decision of the Ministry of the Interior to make peace with Andrej Babiš does not change this fact,' said ÚPN spokesman Michal Miklovič.”