The chief conductor of the Košice State Philharmonic Robert Jindra has resigned from his position after publicly criticizing Culture Minister Martina Šimkovičová.

Jindra voiced concerns over the minister’s decision to dismiss the director of the National Gallery and the National Museum as well as the dismissal of the General Director of the Sovak National Theatre.

According to reports the dismissal of these two leading figures was due to criticism of the minister’s actions regarding public media and culture, which many believe to be autocratic attempts to control the cultural landscape in Slovakia.

In a statement, the orchestra accepted the resignation and said, “CEO of the State Philharmonic Orchestra Košice (ŠFK) Lucia Potokárová has accepted the resignation of ŠFK chief conductor Robert Jindra, which he offered in response to his recently medialized statements to the director. When presenting his opinion, he voted for an inappropriate dictionary. ŠFK respects the freedom of speech of every employee or collaborating artist. As a top artistic institution, it also sees the need to express opinions in a decent and cultured manner.”

The statement added “Robert Jindra as chief conductor of ŠFK has conducted many unforgettable concerts since 2021. We thank him for his artistic contribution and valuable results of his continuous work with the orchestra. ŠFK leadership and Robert Jindra both faced threats from the public after medialization. We decided to turn off the option of commenting on this post in order to maintain a cultured and respectful space. However, we value your feedback which you can provide us via email.”