Oligarch Ivan Kmotrík admitted to hidden privatization of the water utility BVS

On Monday, oligarch Ivan Kmotrík acquired a 49% stake in Infra Services, which provides services to water utility BVS (it accounts for 45% of BVS costs). This is a victory for the Sme daily and the Public Sector Partners Registry that forced Kmotrík to expose the previously hidden privatization of the water utility BVS. By admitting to the stake’s ownership, Kmotrík saved his contract with BVS.

The previous owner, Deputy Transport Minister Peter Ďurček (SNS), used to work for Kmotrík as a lawyer and was provided loans for the stake’s purchase by firms close to Kmotrík in 2012. The Žilina District Court is verifying Ďurček’s inclusion as owner in the Public Sector Partners Registry based on Sme daily motion. The court continued yesterday but has not issued a ruling as yet. Kmotrík maintains he was not Infra Services’ shareholder until Monday. He wants to contribute to the renovation of BVS’s infrastructure.

(SME/1)