Slovaks joining foreign fighters could end up in prison

Slovak citizens who join combat operations abroad as part of organised armed groups can be sentenced to up to eight years imprisonment in Slovakia, according to a Penal Code amendment approved by the Government on Wednesday. The bill reacts to the current global problem of foreign fighters. This issue has also been pointed out in a UN Security Council resolution urging UN members to introduce legislative measures to counter this phenomenon. Reports have emerged, especially last year and earlier this year, that certain Slovaks have joined the ranks of pro-Russian separatists fighting in eastern Ukraine, for example. The bill deals not only with active, but also passive participation in armed conflicts - including public incitement to join such combat operations, recruiting foreign fighters and providing them with training and funds.