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Rusko remained the CEO of Markíza until 2000. Even though he was no longer the CEO, Rusko likely retained a degree of control over Markíza, which strongly supported his new political project [[Alliance of the New Citizen]]. The extent of the support was such, that Markíza got repeatedly fined by the regulator for failing to objectively inform about political developments and even its broadcasting license got in danger. This situation lasted until 2005, when [Central European Media Enterprises] paid off Rusko and took over almost all outstanding shares of TV Markíza.<ref>{{cite web |title=HNonline.sk - Rusko v Markíze skončil, televíziu ovládli Američania |url=https://hnonline.sk/dennik/153247-rusko-v-markize-skoncil-televiziu-ovladli-americania |website=hnonline.sk |access-date=6 September 2022 |language=sk-sk |date=1 November 2005}}</ref>
Rusko remained the CEO of Markíza until 2000. Even though he was no longer the CEO, Rusko likely retained a degree of control over Markíza, which strongly supported his new political project [[Alliance of the New Citizen]]. The extent of the support was such, that Markíza got repeatedly fined by the regulator for failing to objectively inform about political developments and even its broadcasting license got in danger. This situation lasted until 2005, when [Central European Media Enterprises] paid off Rusko and took over almost all outstanding shares of TV Markíza.<ref>{{cite web |title=HNonline.sk - Rusko v Markíze skončil, televíziu ovládli Američania |url=https://hnonline.sk/dennik/153247-rusko-v-markize-skoncil-televiziu-ovladli-americania |website=hnonline.sk |access-date=6 September 2022 |language=sk-sk |date=1 November 2005}}</ref>

[[File:Pavol Rusko at Markiza.sk Party.JPG|thumb|left|Pavol Rusko attending a party at [[TV Markíza]] as its CEO]]


==Personal life==
==Personal life==

Revision as of 09:06, 6 September 2022

Pavol Rusko
2018 12 19-Pavol-Rusko-Tlacova-Konferencia-Orez (3-4)
Minister of Economy of Slovakia
In office
September 24, 2003 – August 24, 2005[1]
Preceded byRobert Nemcsics, until September 10, 2003, Pavol Prokopovič, (acting, September 10 - September 24) [1]
Succeeded byJirko Malchárek, since October 4, 2005, Ivan Mikloš (acting, August 24 - October 4) [1]
Personal details
Born (1963-08-20) August 20, 1963 (age 60)
Liptovský Hrádok , Czechoslovakia (present day Slovakia) [2]
Political partyAlliance of the New Citizen,[2]
Spouses
Viera Rusková
​
​
(m. 1991; div. 2011)​
Henriett Heger
​
​
(m. 2019; div. 2022)​
Children2

Pavol Rusko is retired Slovak politician, television magnate and convinced fraudster.[3] He served as the Minister of Economy of Slovakia between 2003 and 2005 and Managing Director of TV Markíza, at the time Slovakia's most viewed private TV station, between 1996 and 2000. He currently serves a 19-year prison sentence for forging promissory notes in a conspiracy to defraud TV Markíza.[3]

Early life

Pavol Rusko studied Journalism at the Comenius University, graduating in 1987. Already as a student, he worked as Sports anchor at the Slovak public TV broadcaster and was active in the Czechoslovak Socialist Youth Union[4]. In 1994 he left journalism to become a businessman, co-founding and since 1995 acting as the CEO of TV Markíza.[5]

CEO of Markíza

In mid 1990s, Rusko planned to start the first private television broadcaster in Slovak. The starting capital was provided by a Slovak entrepreneur living in Germany Silvia Volzová a American-owned media conglomerate [Central European Media Enterprises]. TV Markíza started broadcasting on the 31st August 1996, quickly gaining massive viewership. From the beginning, Markíza was critical of the government of Slovakia's autocratic prime minister Vladimír Mečiar, despite the amicable personal relationship between Mečiar and Rusko.[4]

In the late summer 1998, the private security hired by Rusko's former university classmate Marian Kočner and his business partner Štefan Agh, supported by Volzová who had grown hostile to Rusko's conduct, took control of TV Markíza premises, claiming Kočner's company Gamatex was entitled to take over the broadcaster due to an unpaid debt by Rusko. Markíza's own security personnel along with station's employees attempted to resist the hostile takeover but were powerless against described by Rusko's Deputy Pavlík as "the most ruthless thugs in the underworld".[6]

The takeover of Markíza caused popular uproar, being perceived by the public as an attempt to silence the popular opposition-supporting broadcaster. Thousands of people attended spontaneous rallies protesting the takeover nearby TV Markíza's premises as well as in other cities around Slovakia. The rallies were supported by many popular artists as well as opposition politicians, including future prime ministers Mikuláš Dzurinda and Robert Fico.[7] The crisis ended when Kočner agreed to end his occupation of Markíza and settle the matter in court.[8] The conflict between Kočner and Rusko lasted until 2000, when Markíza paid off Kočner.[9]

Rusko remained the CEO of Markíza until 2000. Even though he was no longer the CEO, Rusko likely retained a degree of control over Markíza, which strongly supported his new political project Alliance of the New Citizen. The extent of the support was such, that Markíza got repeatedly fined by the regulator for failing to objectively inform about political developments and even its broadcasting license got in danger. This situation lasted until 2005, when [Central European Media Enterprises] paid off Rusko and took over almost all outstanding shares of TV Markíza.[10]

Pavol Rusko attending a party at TV Markíza as its CEO

Personal life

Rusko married his collage sweetheart Viera in 1991. The wedding was attended by the future prime minister Vladimír Mečiar.[11] From this marriage, Rusko has two children, daughter Lívia and son Pavol.[2][12] In 2011, Rusko divorced his wife due to his new relationship with Henriett Heger. Ruko married Heger 2019, shortly before the start of his prison term. Heger applied for divorce in 2022.[13]

External links

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Pavol Rusko.
  1. ^ a b c (in Russian) Slovak ministries, etc
  2. ^ a b c The Slovak Republic Government Office Archived 2007-08-16 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ a b "Court sentences Kočner and Rusko to 19 years in prison". spectator.sme.sk. 27 February 2020. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
  4. ^ a b Cuprik, Roman. "Z medového chlapca skrachovaná Kočnerova slina. Kto je Pavol Rusko". domov.sme.sk (in Slovak). Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  5. ^ "Official CV". www.vlada.gov.sk. Retrieved 2 September 2022.
  6. ^ Beblavý, Miroslav (21 September 1998). "Markíza stormed for second time". spectator.sme.sk. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  7. ^ Novotný, Pavel (3 November 2019). "HNonline.sk - Ako sa začali demonštrácie na podporu Markízy?". hnonline.sk (in Slovak). Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  8. ^ "Gamatex s ochrankou opustil Markízu, zamestnanci dostali záruky do 11. októbra". www.sme.sk (in Slovak). Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  9. ^ "Firma Kočnera žaluje televíziu Markíza. Žiada vyplatenie zmeniek, ktoré vystavil Rusko". www.finreport.sk (in Slovak). Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  10. ^ "HNonline.sk - Rusko v Markíze skončil, televíziu ovládli Američania". hnonline.sk (in Slovak). 1 November 2005. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  11. ^ "Rusková: Muž minul na ANO milióny". svet.sme.sk (in Slovak). Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  12. ^ Interview with Pavol Rusko (in Slovak)
  13. ^ "Uväznenému exministrovi Pavlovi Ruskovi zostali oči pre plač: Manželka to nevydržala! Žiadosť o rozvod do basy". Nový Čas (in Slovak). 3 September 2022. Retrieved 6 September 2022.


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