The European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) in Bratislava has confirmed that raids took place on Wednesday to secure evidence as part of an investigation into the suspected misuse of funds intended for military aid to Ukraine with estimated damages of €7.4 million.
Eight people were detained, including four civil servants from the Defence Ministry.
"The suspects are alleged to have deliberately breached their obligations as well as the budgetary rules of public administration by wrongfully placing orders for the purchase of ammunition from two private companies. The EPPO suspects that the procurement process may have been manipulated and that the ammunition may have been overpriced," said the prosecution service.
In April 2025, the EPPO launched an investigation into senior officials of the Defence Ministry over allegations of the misuse of funds intended for military aid to Ukraine. Between February and March 2022, ministry officials reportedly submitted requests to the European Peace Facility (EPF) for reimbursement of expenditures for donations of ammunition to Ukraine.
The investigation is being carried out in cooperation with the Slovak Office for the Fight against Organised Crime (UBOK) of the Police Corps Presidium. A special investigation team called 'Donor' was formed at UBOK in November 2024. Its formation was instigated by a Supreme Audit Office (NKU) report concerning donations of military equipment to Ukraine and discrepancies in the data on the donated property. Then Defence Minister Jaroslav, who is currently the chairman of the non-parliamentary Democrats party, has denied any accusation of wrongdoing.
On Wednesday morning police attempted to take Naď into custody but were informed that he's currently on vacation in Canada.
Democrats party announced their full supports for Naď, adding that they fully respect the investigation of the European Public Prosecutor's Office and are fully cooperating with law-enforcement bodies.
According to the party, Naď is facing an attempt to unjustifiably criminalise him. "I want to say that we as a party stand behind Jaroslav Naď - the chairman, and I as a former prime minister stand behind my former defence minister. The steps we took were correct, legal, they went through all stages and all institutions as they should have, they fulfilled the legislative process, and so we aren't afraid of any investigation," said Democrats vice-chair and ex-premier Eduard Heger.
PS leader Michal Šimečkaviews the efforts to "detain Naď in a demonstrative manner" as a political game and an attempt at revenge.
"There were many things that the previous government could be criticised for, but foreign and defence policies aren't among them," stated PS vice-chair Tomas Valasek. He opined that when Ukraine became a victim of Russian aggression, the government acted correctly - morally and in the interests of Slovakia's security. According to Šimečka, providing aid to Ukraine is also beneficial for Slovakia.
MP Jaroslav Krupa (SaS) called the police action amateurish, as Naď has been abroad for several days, which he publicly announced via social media.
At the same time, Krupa did not deny that suspicions regarding donations of materials to Ukraine may exist and that they need to be investigated. According to him, the coalition is "irritated" by the fact that the police cannot prosecute the Defence Ministry's former leadership for donating the S-300 air defence system to Ukraine. "So, they found something that they think could be interesting. I'm personally convinced that this will come to nothing, it will drag on for many years and it will just be about throwing dirt at opponents," stated Krupa.
The EPPO is the European Union's independent public prosecutor's office, responsible for investigating, prosecuting and handing down convictions for crimes against the EU's financial interests.
Source: TASR
