Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has blasted Bratislava Region Prosecutor Rastislav Remet for closing investigations into weapons donations made by Slovakia’s previous government to Ukraine.
Fico stated that the past administration left Slovakia “completely naked” by donating fighter jets and anti-aircraft systems to Ukraine, an action he said violated law and international agreements. He accused prosecutors of refusing to acknowledge the damage caused by these transfers and covering it up for political reasons.
Slovakia handed over Soviet MiG-29 jets and S-300 missile systems to Ukraine during 2022–2023 under then-Prime Minister Eduard Heger. Bratislava Region Prosecutor Rastislav Remet announced this week that three of four investigations into possible criminality related to the transfers have been closed.
Remet claimed both weapon types offered little benefit to Slovak national security while being costly to operate, so transferring them was efficient state property management. Fico called the reasoning “senseless,” noting the systems were “donated directly from active service” – where they were deployed to meet Slovakia’s NATO commitments – and “immediately” used by Ukraine after transfer.
“After the donation in violation of the law and international agreements, we were left completely naked,” Fico stressed. “And to this day, our airspace is protected by Hungarian, Polish, and Czech fighters, which is not befit a sovereign country.”
Fico also noted that Remet’s announcement coincided with a press conference by Prosecutor General Maros Zilinka. He accused Fico’s government of undermining the rule of law, claiming recent reforms caused a drop in corruption prosecutions and alleging pressure on Zilinka to downplay problems in an ongoing report to the European Union.
Fico argued that Zilinka was deflecting criticism for poor performance with political attacks and claimed Remet was protecting then-Prime Minister Eduard Heger and former Defense Minister Jaroslav Nad. He further suggested that Remet might seek the prosecutor general’s office should the opposition return to power.
The controversy over Ukraine aid has also sparked issues in the Czech Republic, where a Euroskeptic government took office last December pledging to cut support. Like Slovakia and Hungary, the Czech Republic refused to contribute to the EU’s €90 billion ($105 billion) joint loan for Kiev.
