The state has not yet given money for the demolition of the pig farm in Lety

Lety - The Museum of Romani Culture, which manages the area of the former pig farm in Lety, has yet to receive funding from the state for archaeological research and the demolition of the buildings. The former government of Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka (ČSSD) promised in a resolution that the state would cover the cost of demolishing the pig farm, including the removal of environmental burdens and land reclamation, with the demolition expected to cost 117 million CZK. The current government of Andrej Babiš (ANO) has not yet confirmed this resolution. Kristina Kohoutová, spokesperson for the Museum of Romani Culture, told ČTK. The pig farm was located near the site of the former Roma concentration camp.

A two-month archaeological survey costing 1.5 million CZK was supposed to start in May, but it has not begun yet. The Ministry of Culture wanted to transfer the amount for the demolition into its budget for this year from the government’s budget reserve.

"We have presented this item to the government twice, and it has not yet been discussed; we will therefore present it again by the end of the summer. Once this item is included in the government meeting agenda and discussed, we will be able to say when the Museum of Romani Culture will receive the funding," said Simona Cigánková, spokesperson for the Ministry of Culture, to ČTK.

The Museum of Romani Culture is currently carrying out preparatory work in the area in Lety. An archaeological survey is supposed to precede the demolition. "But we do not have the funds, so we cannot even pay for the archaeological research. The funds are not available because the current government has to revoke and confirm last year's government resolution that allocated the money for the demolition. The resolution has not been confirmed, the funds have not yet been approved, and have not been transferred. We can do necessary things like securing the buildings, but we cannot continue with investment matters," Kohoutová said.

The pig farm is expected to be demolished next year, as Jana Horváthová, director of the Museum of Romani Culture, told ČTK in April. Norway plans to contribute one million euros (about 25.8 million CZK) for a new memorial. The site will include a visitor center with an exhibition of archaeological findings and a lecture hall.

The Museum of Romani Culture took over the pig farm from the Agpi company in April. The pig farm, covering an area of 7.1 hectares, was built starting in 1972, housing 13,000 animals across 13 halls. Discussions about the purchase and creation of a memorial site have been ongoing for over 20 years.