Ernest Valko
Encyclopedia
Ernest Valko, JUDr., PhD. (August 10, 1953 – November 8, 2010) was the former Chairman of the Czechoslovak Constitutional Court and prominent Slovak
lawyer
. Valko was shot dead inside his home in Limbach
in 2010. As of May 2011, the investigation is still ongoing.
According to newspaper Nový Čas, one of the versions points to an organized crime group from Bratislava
.
Ernest Valko was connected to numerous high-profile lawsuits at the time of his death.
. He received his M.A. at the Faculty of Law, Comenius University in Bratislava
(1973 - 1977). In 1979 he received his rigorosum at the same school. From 2000 to 2004 he studied postgradually at the Institute of State and Law of the Slovak Academy of Sciences
, earning his dissertation in 2004.
, he was co-opted by Verejnosť proti násiliu
(the Slovak counterpart of the better known Civic Forum
) as a Member of Parliament into the Federálne zhromaždenie (Federal assembly) in 1990. During his time in the parliament, Valko helped formulate the novelisations of the Labour Law, Trade Law, Competence Law, implementing the Charter of fundamental rights and freedoms and the constitutional Law of Referendum.
He served as the deputy speaker of the Lower House of the Czechoslovak federal parliament in the period 1990 - 1991. From January 31, 1992 to December 31, 1992 he was the Chairman of the Constitutional Court of Czechoslovakia, the only one in its history.
After the creation of Slovakia in 1993 he established his own law firm and specialised in constitutional law. In 2006 he unsuccessfully run for the Slovak parliament
.
According to newspaper Pravda, Valko's murder may be connected to the 1999 shooting of former Minister in three Slovak governments and privatisation oligarch
Ján Ducký
. Ducký, as the former Director of SPP (Slovak Gas Industry - one of the most prosperous companies in Slovakia at that time) is the author of the so-called Duckého zmenky. Ernest Valko was SPP's attorney since 2000. There are similarities between the shootings of Ducký and Valko.
Recently Valko represented Finance Minister Ivan Mikloš
in a libel lawsuit filed against former Prime Minister of Slovakia Robert Fico
, the leader of the opposition Smer party, in which Mikloš was successful. Valko also was recently representing the state-owned lottery company, Tipos, in a suit in which there is the possibility that the state might lose 66 million euro
.
There have been allegations that Valko was murdered because of the Tipos vs. Lemikon Limited case.
on November 8, 2010. His death is under investiagion by Úrad boja proti organizovanej kriminalite.
According to newspaper SME
, there are four possible motives for Valko's murder:
As of May 2011, the consensus among Slovak pundits and journalists is that Ernest Valko's death was a targeted killing carried out by one of the organized groups of Slovakia's underground. The hit was probably ordered from the outside of the mafia and possibly carried out by a hitman from outside of Slovakia.
Slovakia
The Slovak Republic is a landlocked state in Central Europe. It has a population of over five million and an area of about . Slovakia is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south...
lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
. Valko was shot dead inside his home in Limbach
Limbach, Slovakia
Limbach is a municipality in western Slovakia in Pezinok District in the Bratislava Region, under the Little Carpathians. It is particularly well known for its production of wine.-History:...
in 2010. As of May 2011, the investigation is still ongoing.
According to newspaper Nový Čas, one of the versions points to an organized crime group from Bratislava
Bratislava
Bratislava is the capital of Slovakia and, with a population of about 431,000, also the country's largest city. Bratislava is in southwestern Slovakia on both banks of the Danube River. Bordering Austria and Hungary, it is the only national capital that borders two independent countries.Bratislava...
.
Ernest Valko was connected to numerous high-profile lawsuits at the time of his death.
Education
Ernest Valko was born in Spišská Nová Ves, at that time CzechoslovakiaCzechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
. He received his M.A. at the Faculty of Law, Comenius University in Bratislava
Comenius University in Bratislava
Comenius University in Bratislava is the largest university in Slovakia, with most of its faculties located in Bratislava. It was founded in 1919, shortly after the creation of Czechoslovakia. It is named after Jan Amos Comenius, a 17th century Czech teacher and philosopher.In 2006, Comenius...
(1973 - 1977). In 1979 he received his rigorosum at the same school. From 2000 to 2004 he studied postgradually at the Institute of State and Law of the Slovak Academy of Sciences
Slovak Academy of Sciences
The Slovak Academy of Sciences SAV is the main scientific and research institution in Slovakia fostering basic and strategic basic research...
, earning his dissertation in 2004.
Political career
After the Velvet RevolutionVelvet Revolution
The Velvet Revolution or Gentle Revolution was a non-violent revolution in Czechoslovakia that took place from November 17 – December 29, 1989...
, he was co-opted by Verejnosť proti násiliu
Public Against Violence
The Public Against Violence was a political movement that was established in Bratislava, Slovakia on 20 November 1989. It was the Slovak counterpart of the Czech Civic Forum ....
(the Slovak counterpart of the better known Civic Forum
Civic Forum
The Civic Forum was a political movement in the Czech part of Czechoslovakia, established during the Velvet Revolution in 1989...
) as a Member of Parliament into the Federálne zhromaždenie (Federal assembly) in 1990. During his time in the parliament, Valko helped formulate the novelisations of the Labour Law, Trade Law, Competence Law, implementing the Charter of fundamental rights and freedoms and the constitutional Law of Referendum.
He served as the deputy speaker of the Lower House of the Czechoslovak federal parliament in the period 1990 - 1991. From January 31, 1992 to December 31, 1992 he was the Chairman of the Constitutional Court of Czechoslovakia, the only one in its history.
After the creation of Slovakia in 1993 he established his own law firm and specialised in constitutional law. In 2006 he unsuccessfully run for the Slovak parliament
National Council of the Slovak Republic
The National Council of the Slovak Republic , abbreviated to NR SR, is the national parliament of Slovakia. It is unicameral, and consists of 150 MPs, who are elected by universal suffrage under proportional representation every four years....
.
Work
Ernest Valko was connected to many important lawsuits in the past, including:- Ľubomír FeldekLubomír FeldekĽubomír Feldek is a Slovak poet, writer, playwright, and translator. He is married to Oľga Feldeková....
vs. Slovak Ministry of Culture - SPPSlovenský plynárenský priemyselSlovenský plynárenský priemysel, a.s. is a Slovak key natural gas supplier. The company follows on from over 150 years of gas industry in Slovakia...
(Slovak Gas Industry) vs. Union banka (Union Bank), part of the so-called Duckého zmenky
According to newspaper Pravda, Valko's murder may be connected to the 1999 shooting of former Minister in three Slovak governments and privatisation oligarch
Business oligarch
Business oligarch is a near-synonym of the term "business magnate", borrowed by the English speaking and western media from post-Soviet parlance to describe the huge, fast-acquired wealth of some businessmen of the former Soviet republics during the privatization in Russia and other post-Soviet...
Ján Ducký
Ján Ducký
right|thumb|Bajzova Street in [[Bratislava]], Ján Ducký was murdered in the middle apartment houseJán Ducký, Ing. was a Slovak politician, former Minister in three different Slovak governments and Director of SPP...
. Ducký, as the former Director of SPP (Slovak Gas Industry - one of the most prosperous companies in Slovakia at that time) is the author of the so-called Duckého zmenky. Ernest Valko was SPP's attorney since 2000. There are similarities between the shootings of Ducký and Valko.
Recently Valko represented Finance Minister Ivan Mikloš
Ivan Mikloš
Ivan Mikloš is the incumbent Minister of Finance of Slovakia, appointed on July 9, 2010. He previously served as Slovakia's Minister of Finance from 2002 to 2006 and Deputy Prime Minister for Economy between 1998 and 2002....
in a libel lawsuit filed against former Prime Minister of Slovakia Robert Fico
Robert Fico
Robert Fico served as the Prime Minister of Slovakia from July 4, 2006 to July 8, 2010.He is the leader of the left-wing party Direction – Social Democracy . The party won the parliamentary elections in 2006, receiving approximately 30 percent of the cast votes...
, the leader of the opposition Smer party, in which Mikloš was successful. Valko also was recently representing the state-owned lottery company, Tipos, in a suit in which there is the possibility that the state might lose 66 million euro
Euro
The euro is the official currency of the eurozone: 17 of the 27 member states of the European Union. It is also the currency used by the Institutions of the European Union. The eurozone consists of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,...
.
There have been allegations that Valko was murdered because of the Tipos vs. Lemikon Limited case.
Other positions
- 2003 – death – member of the supervisory board of Slovenské elektráne, a.s. (Slovak power plant a.s.)
- 1998 – death – trustee in bankruptcy proceedings, restructuring proceedings or proceedings on settlement of debts
- 1997 – death – arbiter at the Arbitration Court of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Slovak Republic
- 1999 – 2004 – member of the Slovak Board for Radio and Television Broadcasting and Retransmission
- 1999 – 2002 – member of the supervisory board of Istrobanka, a.s.
- 1999 – 2002 – member of the supervisory board of Slovenská poisťovňa, a.s. (Slovak Insurance Company, a.s.)
- 2000 – 2001 – member of APS Consortium led by European Law & Policy Advisory Group, GbR (ELPA Group), that within the PHARE project rendered legal advice with a view to harmonise the Slovak legislation, aimed at short-term and middle-term priorities of partnership for the accession to the European Union
Death
Ernest Valko was found dead by his daughter and ex-wife in his home in LimbachLimbach
Limbach may refer to:In Germany:*Limbach, Baden-Württemberg, in Baden-Württemberg*Limbach, Bad Kreuznach, in the district of Bad Kreuznach, Rhineland-Palatinate*Limbach, Westerwaldkreis, in the Westerwaldkreis, Rhineland-Palatinate...
on November 8, 2010. His death is under investiagion by Úrad boja proti organizovanej kriminalite.
According to newspaper SME
SME (newspaper)
SME or Denník SME is the most widely read and very influential mainstream broadsheet in Slovakia.Its target group is very wide, but officially it focuses on readers in bigger cities and agglomerations. Its circulation in December 2006 was 76 590. It appears 6 times a week. It is issued by Petit...
, there are four possible motives for Valko's murder:
- Robbery – although this seems unlikely to some, the police were not able to rule out the possibility that Valko's death was unrelated to his work. The fact is, that Valko's house was robbed into in the past and the lawyer reported his two legally held firearms as missing. Ministry of Interior of Slovakia publicly denied the information that Valko received a safety shot to the head, implicating targeted killingTargeted killingTargeted killing is the deliberate, specific targeting and killing, by a government or its agents, of a supposed terrorist or of a supposed "unlawful combatant" who is not in that government's custody...
. - Duckého zmenky
- Tipos vs. Lemikon Limited lawsuit
- Rašelina Quido case - a lawsuit about a lucrative peat bog in Slovakia connected to the company Peat Group, formerly Rašelina Quido. Ernest Valko was the attorney of businessman Tobiáš Loyka against two former Slovak Information Service agents Michal Hrbáček and Martin Lieskovský.
As of May 2011, the consensus among Slovak pundits and journalists is that Ernest Valko's death was a targeted killing carried out by one of the organized groups of Slovakia's underground. The hit was probably ordered from the outside of the mafia and possibly carried out by a hitman from outside of Slovakia.