Slovak President Andrej Kiska says the country’s government ignored warnings from intelligence services about activities of an Italian criminal syndicate in the nation.
Members of the ‘Ndrangheta syndicate are suspected of possible involvement in the slayings of investigative journalist Jan Kuciak and his fiancee Martina Kusnirova last month.
Mr Kiska said on Wednesday the head of the SIS spy agency, Anton Safarik, told him some government ministers had been long been informed about the group.
The president gave no further details.
Seven Italians linked to the group were detained last week as suspects, and later released.
In his last unfinished story, Mr Kuciak reported on the influence of ‘Ndrangheta in eastern Slovakia and its ties to people close to Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico.
Italian authorities said they had warned their Slovak counterparts about the group.
