While Europe discusses 'digital ethics' and 'transparency of public authorities', the Czech Republic decided to hold a master class on how to publicly wash dirty money and lose reputation in one blockchain.
The Ministry of Justice of the country accepted with nostalgia 468 bitcoins - approximately $45 million - from former cybercriminal Tomasz Zhirikovsky.
Yes-yes, the same one who was sentenced in 2018 for drug trafficking and fraud.
And what did the Ministry of Justice do? Correctly — accepted a donation, sold it, and happily reported on 'digital progress.'
🎭 Welcome to the theater of the absurd
While Zhirinovsky was 'laundering' the past, Czech officials were 'laundering' bitcoins.
And when the public realized that they were handed cyber sludge under the guise of charity — real panic began.
Justice Minister Pavel Blažek, who tried to explain that he 'didn't know' from whom he was taking crypto, flew out of his chair like a cork from champagne.
Prime Minister Petr Fiala nervously sweated before parliament, fending off the no-confidence vote, while Babish's opposition turned it into the show of the century — with slogans like 'Bitcoins of criminals, government without shame!'
Blazek was replaced by Eva Decroix — a lawyer whose face is now associated not with justice, but with the fire brigade: her task is to extinguish the political fire.
Now the Czech police is unraveling the case — finding out whether these bitcoins were part of old darknet schemes related to the Sheep Marketplace.
If yes — accusations of money laundering, abuse of power, and negligence of public officials are possible.
The European Parliament is already discussing new laws: 'No official will accept crypto without an audit' — as if that would change anything in a country where bitcoins are accepted with a smile and no questions.
📉 Consequences
Political damage: the government's approval rating collapsed, trust in the Ministry of Justice vanished.
Economic effect: investors and the media now call the Czech Republic the 'new crypto-Albania of Europe.'
Image: instead of being the 'digital flagship of the EU,' the country now sounds like a 'digital laundering.'
When a criminal donates millions and the state thanks them — that's no longer corruption.
This is a union of holy naivety and devilish greed.
And if justice is blinded by the shine of bitcoin, who said that the court wouldn't accept a bribe... just in another currency?
