The scandal makes the bold cabbage of the local press. The Czech Justice Minister Pavel Blazek presented his resignation on Friday after his ministry received 40 million euros and bitcoins belonging to a drug trafficker.
The Ministry of Pavel Blazek received this bitcoin sum from a man who had served four years in prison for embezzlement, drug trafficking and illegal weapon possession until 2021. The ministry then sold this bitcoins this year against Czech crowns, explained Blazek.
The origin of the money is unknown, but the minister said that the courts had never proven that he came from a criminal activity. “I am not aware of any illegal act. But I don’t want to tarnish the reputation of the government coalition, “he said on X on Friday.
Upon agreement with the Prime Minister @P_fiala I decided to resign as Minister of Justice. I am not aware of any illegal action. However, I do not want to harm the reputation of the government or the government coalition.
– Pavel Blažek (@blazek_p) May 30, 2025
This scandal is the subject of an investigation for abuse of power and money laundering. Blazek, 56, is a member of the Civic Democratic Party (ODS, right) of Prime Minister Petr Fiala, who heads the government coalition of center right formed after the 2021 elections.
Calls for resignation
The opposition had called on the Minister of Justice to resign information on this scandal on Wednesday. Petr Fiala said on x That he was convinced that Blazek had acted “in good faith” and that he considered his resignation as a “responsible decision”.
The Czech Republic, a member country of the EU and the OTN with 10.9 million inhabitants, is preparing for general elections scheduled for October 3 and 4. The ano opposition movement of the former billionaire Prime Minister Andrej Babis is credited by polls of more than 30 % of voting intentions, ahead of ODS, second, with around 20 %.
