Síkela suggests Křetínský daily attacked him following pipeline deal

The minister of industry and trade, Jozef Síkela, says attacks on him by a Czech newspaper owned by Daniel Křetínský should raise questions about how the billionaire entrepreneur uses his media assets in other states.

Mr. Síkela told the Financial Times on Wednesday that it was “strange” the daily Blesk had run stories critical of the government’s purchase of a gas pipeline operator that Mr. Křetínský had also bid for.

The businessman sold his stake in France’s Le Monde but still owns radio stations and magazines in the country. He is reportedly interested in buying the UK’s Daily Telegraph.