R. Kaliňák: The actions of the Slovak police against the former Minister of Defense are at the request of the European Prosecutor’s Office

Bratislava – The securing actions related to the activities of the investigative team Donor and the donation of military arsenal to Ukraine are being carried out by the Slovak police based on the instruction of the prosecutors of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO). This was stated on Wednesday by the Minister of Defense of the Slovak Republic, Robert Kaliňák (Smer-SD), and also by the Minister of Interior, Matúš Šutaj Eštok (Hlas-SD), TASR reports.

Kaliňák is also convinced that the investigation has its reason, and that reason goes beyond Slovak laws.

“If the European Public Prosecutor’s Office is investigating something, it clearly has a broader scope than a violation of Slovak laws; it must have an impact on money, rules, or something similar that could harm the interests of the European Union,” emphasized the minister. However, he also expects more information from the statements of the prosecutor of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office.

The Minister of Interior refused to comment further on the police’s actions in this matter and added that the EPPO prosecutor reserved the right to inform about this case first.

The Office for the Fight against Organized Crime (ÚBOK) is carrying out several securing actions regarding the Donor team on the territory of Slovakia. Criminal prosecution has been initiated by the prosecutor of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO).

The Donor team was established within ÚBOK in November 2024, prompted by a report from the Supreme Audit Office of the Slovak Republic concerning the donation of military arsenal to Ukraine and discrepancies in the data about the donated property. The then Minister of Defense, Jaroslav Naď, the current chairman of the extra-parliamentary party Democrats, denies the accusation of wrongdoing. He is currently residing in Canada.

The extra-parliamentary party Democrats fully supports its chairman and former Minister of Defense Jaroslav Naď regarding the donation of ammunition to Ukraine. They emphasized that they respect the EPPO investigation and are fully cooperating with the authorities involved in the criminal proceedings. The party’s vice-chairman, Juraj Šeliga, called it “insane” that the police came to knock on Naď’s door when he publicly announced his trip to Canada.

The Democrats are convinced that the prosecutor did not issue an order for Naď or other individuals to be detained. They speak of the misuse of the police for political combat. According to them, the government is trying to cover up its own failures. Party representatives stated this at a press conference on Wednesday, emphasizing that Naď is facing an attempt at unjustified criminalization.

“If the European Public Prosecutor’s Office is investigating something, it clearly has a broader scope than a violation of Slovak laws; it must have an impact on money, rules, or something similar that could harm the interests of the European Union.” Robert Kaliňák