Professional soldiers will get their own military ombudsperson, tasked with investigating suspicions of violations of their basic rights and freedoms, either at the ombudsperson's own initiative or based on a complaint, it follows from an amendment to the Professional Soldiers State Service Act that has come into effect. The military ombudsperson will be subordinated to the Defence Minister. The Ombudsman will report annually to the Minister on the previous year's activities. In it, the Ombudsman will set out his or her findings on the observance of the fundamental rights and freedoms of professional soldiers and suggestions and recommendations for remedying the shortcomings identified. This function may be performed by a citizen of the Slovak Republic who has completed second-level higher education and has at least ten years of professional experience. In addition to the establishment of the post of military ombudsman, the amendment also provides for other changes to stabilise military personnel and the civil service. The conditions for the admission of professional soldiers to the civil service will be tightened. A citizen who has served without authorisation in the armed forces of another state, or who has actively fought on the territory of another state in an organised armed group or supported it, will not be considered reliable. The amendment also includes a streamlining of the recruitment procedure, new possibilities for the award of bonuses in the framework of the regulation of the conditions of state service, as well as a reduction of the minimum periods of state service in selected military ranks.
Source: TASR
