Police in Slovakia allegedly attempted to apprehend the former defense minister in relation to an aid deal with Ukraine, according to media outlets.
Fresh Take:
In a shocking twist ofevents, Slovakia's former Defense Minister, Jaroslav Nad, foundhimself in the crosshairs of an investigation. This probe, initiated by the Slovak police, alleges misconduct during the donation of ammunition to Ukraine back in 2022, according to reports from local newspaper Dennik N on June 18.
Two undisclosed sources claim responsibility for the information. As of writing, Nad is chillin’ in Canada, away from the fray. The police also reportedly aim to detain a former Defense Ministry official, and have already nabbed Konstrukta Defense's ex-head – a move that Nad’s opposition, the Democrats, deem as underhanded political maneuvering.
The operation appears to revolve around 120mm rounds, ammunition Slovakia donated to Ukraine at the onset of Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022. The Defense Ministry is suspected of initially selling obsolete ammunition to a private company, later purchasing it back at a higher price from Konstrukta Defense to expedite deliveries to Ukraine.
Nad served as defense minister from 2020 to 2023, supporting Ukraine against Russian aggression with substantial military aid. Slovakia's foreign policy took a drastic turn after the election victory ofleft-nationalist Robert Fico in September 2023, who put on the brakes on military aid from Slovak military stocks, adopted more hostile rhetoric toward Kyiv, and sought closer energy ties with Russia.
Nad dismissed the allegations as a "dramatic performance," likening it to the government's attempt to divert the public's attention from internal issues. He further expressed his pride in the support provided to Ukraine, stating he would make the same decision again without hesitation.
Fico, a vocal critic of Western military aid to Ukraine, had previously denounced the decision to send MiG-29 jets to Ukraine as "treason." In another case last year, Slovak Defense Minister Robert Kalinak denounced a decision to send MiG-29 jets to Ukraine as "treason."
This investigation appears to extend beyond a simple, politically-motivated plot. Although the specifics remain hazy, the allegations involve multiple individuals from the Defense Ministry and multiple transfers of military equipment to Ukraine. The European Public Prosecutors Office is also investigating possible fraud surrounding the ammunition aid to Ukraine.
At the time of writing, the case appears to be unresolved, with Nad and other detainees released without charges. While the investigation is still ongoing, there is no clear evidence as yet indicating a firm political motive for Nad's detention.
War-and-conflicts continue to dominate the headlines as a high-profile investigation unfolds in Slovakia. Amidst politics and general news, former Defense Minister Jaroslav Nad finds himself at the center of a controversy involving the donation of ammunition to Ukraine, with crime-and-justice elements also coming to light as multiple officials are investigated for misconduct.
