President Peter Pellegrini said on Saturday that Slovakia erred in disposing of its MiG-29 fighter jets without having replacements, stressing on social media that the ability to protect national airspace is a core element of sovereignty.
Authorities have closed three of four criminal cases related to military aid to Ukraine during the previous election period, dismissing or discontinuing proceedings over the donation of MiG-29 jets, the S-300 air defence system and the termination of a servicing contract with a Russian firm. Police are still investigating the transfer of technical documentation to the Ukrainian military attaché.
Interior Minister Matúš Šutaj Eštok (Hlas-SD) has publicly criticized the decision to halt prosecutions and said prosecutors must explain their decisions, warning this could set a dangerous precedent and citing legal and audit concerns about how the donations were handled.
Junior coalition partner SNS has called for the dismissal of Armed Forces Chief of General Staff Daniel Zmeko, urging Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) to submit the proposal to the president. Defence Minister Robert Kaliňák said replacing Zmeko is not urgent, noting that his term ends in May and that he believes Zmeko has led the Armed Forces responsibly, even under orders from political leadership..
Opposition MP Gábor Grendel (Slovakia – For the People) dismissed the SNS call as a political attack, saying police and prosecutors found no illegality in the military donations.
Source: TASR
