ZAGREB, 16 Feb 2022 - The Državne Nekretnine state property management company on Tuesday said that the renovation of the state-owned basement used by Prime Minister's chief-of-staff Zvonimir Frka-Petešić, had been conducted in line with law and regulations.

"The renovation of the pertaining basement space in Zagreb was planned within the company's regular business activities and the project was also made public within the company's public procurement operations' plan for 2021", Državne Nekretnine stated in a press release in response to media reports that that the 83-square-metre large basement was renovated and refurbished at a price of 417,000 kuna.

"During the advertised public procurement tender for this project, a total of six bids were submitted, and an independent task force selected the most favourable bid", Državne Nekretnine said, adding that the most favourable bid was HRK 333,707.

The renovation was conducted to keep the state-owned property in a good state of repair, it emphasized.

Asked about the renovation of the basement where his chief-of-staff Frka-Petešić keeps his books, Prime Minister Andrej Plenković said on Tuesday that the Državne Nekretnine state property management company would explain everything.

"That has nothing to do with him. This... shameful, orchestrated lynching campaign that has been going on against Frka-Petešić for a month is one of the more stupid, irritating and mean things in the media and internet sphere," said Plenković.

For more, check out our politics section.

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