PM and finance minister admit they knew about dubious bitcoin transaction

Prime Minister Petr Fiala and Finance Minister Zbynek Stanjura have both admitted that they knew about the disputed one billion crown bitcoin transaction that led to the resignation of Pavel Blažek as justice minister last Friday. Speaking at a press briefing in Prague, Prime Minister Fiala said he had been informed about the donation in May and had received assurances from Mr. Blažek that the transaction was in order. He repeated that he believed the justice minister had acted in good faith in accepting the gift.

Meanwhile, Finance Minister Zbyněk Stanjura allegedly warned then justice minister Pavel Blažek against accepting a massive donation of money from a suspect individual, but only after the contract had been signed. Both ministers said they considered the matter resolved with Mr. Blažek’s resignation and ruled out the possibility of the government’s resignation over the scandal.

It emerged last week that the Czech Justice Ministry had accepted a bitcoin donation worth one billion crowns from a man convicted of drug trafficking, embezzlement, and illegal possession of weapons. The opposition parties have called for a special session of the lower house to debate the matter and are demanding the resignation of the entire Fiala government.