Saturday, 15 March 2025
Juraj Celler, chairman of the Slovak Office of Geodesy, Cartography and Cadastre (ÚGKK), has officially resigned from his position yesterday, following mounting political pressure in the wake of a cyberattack on the office’s information systems, including the national land registry. Slovak media reported that Celler announced his resignation on Sunday in response to calls from government officials, including Prime Minister Robert Fico.
The cyberattack, which occurred on January 5, disrupted ÚGKK’s operations, with the office and the Ministry of Interior initially downplaying the incident as a technical outage before later confirming it was a targeted attack.
Celler, who was appointed by the current government a year ago, faced increasing scrutiny over his handling of the crisis. Prime Minister Fico publicly called for his resignation in recent days, emphasizing the need for accountability and swift action to restore public trust.
Under Slovak law, the head of the ÚGKK is directly accountable to the government, and Celler’s departure marks a significant shift as authorities work to recover from what has been described as the most severe cyberattack in the country’s history. Government officials have suggested that the attack may have originated from Ukraine, although investigations are still ongoing.
Despite the disruption, a significant number of Slovak land registry offices have gradually resumed operations in a limited capacity. The Ministry of Interior announced that as of today, 17 additional cadastral departments, including key offices in Bratislava, have reopened to the public.
However, the central information system, crucial for full functionality, remains offline, creating delays in property transactions and administrative processes.
ÚGKK officials have assured the public that data integrity has not been compromised, stating that property ownership records are being restored from backup files. Efforts to fully restore services are ongoing, with authorities prioritizing security measures to prevent future incidents.
The unprecedented attack has raised concerns about the vulnerability of Slovakia’s critical infrastructure and the need for enhanced cybersecurity protocols. The government is expected to implement stricter measures to safeguard public data and prevent similar incidents in the future.
Meanwhile, the search for Celler’s replacement is underway, with government officials emphasizing the importance of appointing a leader capable of navigating the challenges of digital transformation and cybersecurity in the real estate sector.
As Slovakia works to recover from the disruption, authorities remain focused on restoring full functionality to the cadastral system while addressing public concerns over data security and operational transparency.
Source: CTK
