Fact Check: "Andrej Babiš was an agent of the StB."
What We Know
Andrej Babiš, the former Prime Minister of the Czech Republic, has been a controversial figure, particularly regarding his alleged connections to the StB (Státní bezpečnost), the secret police of communist Czechoslovakia. Babiš himself has consistently denied knowingly being an agent of the StB, stating that he never cooperated with the secret police (source-1). However, documents from the Slovak National Memory Institute have indicated that he was indeed registered as an agent during the 1980s (source-1).
In a recent legal settlement, Slovakia's Interior Ministry acknowledged that Babiš was "wrongly listed" as an StB agent and claimed he did not knowingly cooperate with the secret police. This settlement has sparked accusations of political favoritism, as it was reached amidst Babiš's close ties with Slovak politicians (source-2). Despite this, the Slovak Institute of National Memory maintains that Babiš's registration as an agent was legitimate and supported by various documents (source-2).
Analysis
The claim that Babiš was an agent of the StB is complex and involves conflicting narratives. On one hand, Babiš's denial of knowingly being an agent is supported by the recent legal settlement, where the Slovak Interior Ministry formally recognized that he was wrongly registered as an agent. This could suggest that there was no formal acknowledgment of his active participation or cooperation with the StB (source-2).
On the other hand, the Slovak Institute of National Memory, which is responsible for preserving historical records of the communist regime, continues to assert that Babiš's registration as an agent is valid and backed by documentation (source-2). This indicates a significant divide between official governmental acknowledgment and historical records maintained by institutions dedicated to documenting the past.
The reliability of the sources is mixed. The Slovak Interior Ministry's statement could be seen as politically motivated, especially given Babiš's connections with current Slovak leadership (source-2). Conversely, the Slovak Institute of National Memory is an established body with a mandate to maintain historical accuracy, which lends credibility to their claims about Babiš's involvement with the StB.
Conclusion
The claim that "Andrej Babiš was an agent of the StB" is Partially True. While there is evidence suggesting he was registered as an agent, Babiš's legal victory and the acknowledgment from the Slovak Interior Ministry complicate the narrative. The conflicting statements from different institutions highlight the contentious nature of this issue, suggesting that while he may have had ties to the StB, the extent and nature of his involvement remain disputed.
