Meetings of the Smer party’s leadership, including individuals not formally affiliated with the party, reportedly took place at a private floor of the DoubleTree by Hilton hotel in Bratislava, according to testimony given in 2020 by Peter Tóth as reported by Denník N.
Three Oligarchs
A group surrounding Juraj Široký gradually removed the city’s ownership stake from Tehelné pole, the company behind the Hilton hotel. Široký later added two partners to his largest investment in Bratislava. In 2021, Aktuality.sk reported that the hotel was owned one-third each by Široký, Jozef Brhel, and a “mysterious Russian” named Evgeny Gabov, who is connected to Miroslav Výboh. Výboh responded at the time stating he had no shareholder or ownership relationship to the hotel.
Brhel’s companies likewise maintain their headquarters and space on the hotel’s tenth floor, where investigators allege bribes were delivered, according to Denník N.
Following the launch of investigations into major cases in Slovakia, Brhel divested his stake in the hotel, with his share being taken over by Anton Bielik, Brhel’s long-time manager, as reported by Aktuality.sk.
The Russian’s Departure
Recent changes in the hotel’s ownership structure are evident in a record from the Registry of Partners of the Public Sector from mid-April. According to this record, the parent company of the hotel, Tehelné pole, is now owned solely by E-group and TP Slovan, each holding a 50% stake. The previously mentioned Russian, Gabov, has disappeared from the ownership structure.
TP Slovan is a company within the group of Juraj Široký, while E-group holds stakes in the hotel through companies linked to individuals close to Jozef Brhel, including Anton Bielik, Stanislav Fuňa, Rastislav Roška, and Tomáš Lysina.
This registration means the hotel may be able to enter into larger contracts with the state, exceeding €250,000 annually. Companies register in this registry specifically due to plans to conclude contracts with state institutions.
Currently, the hotel does not have any recent contracts with the state in the central registry. The last published contract is for the rental of space for the Slovak Medical Chamber for €23,000, as reported by crz.gov.sk. Contracts of this lower value can be concluded without registration in the Registry of Partners of the Public Sector, where the hotel was not registered for years and only registered for the first time this April.
Frequently Asked Questions
What role did Peter Tóth play in revealing information about the hotel meetings?
Peter Tóth provided testimony in 2020, as reported by Denník N, stating that meetings of the Smer party’s leadership took place at a private floor of the DoubleTree by Hilton hotel in Bratislava.
Who currently owns the Tehelné pole company, which owns the hotel?
According to a record from mid-April, Tehelné pole is currently owned by E-group and TP Slovan, each holding a 50% stake.
What is the significance of the hotel’s registration in the Registry of Partners of the Public Sector?
The registration means the hotel may be able to enter into larger contracts with the state, exceeding €250,000 annually, as companies register in this registry specifically due to plans to conclude contracts with state institutions.
How might these evolving ownership structures and reported connections influence the future of state contracts and political decision-making in Slovakia?
