Latest news with #RobertFico
BBC News
2 days ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Slovak police in failed bid to arrest ex-defence chief over aid to Ukraine
Police in Slovakia have tried to arrest ex-defence minister Jaroslav Nad over aid donations to Ukraine, in a case he has condemned as politically media said police had gone to his home on Wednesday morning but the former minister was not there. He later said he was on holiday abroad and proud of his said the case had been initiated by the EU's European Public Prosecutor's Office in Bratislava which said eight people had been detained on Wednesday as part of an investigation into alleged misuse of €7.4m (£6.3m) in it also exposes the political rift in Slovakia over the war in Ukraine. The current defence minister in Prime Minister Robert Fico's populist-nationalist government has accused Jaroslav Nad of treason for giving fighter jets to Ukraine. And Wednesday's police operation came to light a day after Fico floated the idea of neutrality for Slovakia, which has been a Nato member since the second day of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the defence ministry under Slovakia's previous government ordered the immediate purchase of 12,000 rounds of 120mm mortar ammunition from state-owned defence company state had previously sold off the obsolete ammunition to Konstrukta, but according to the Dennik N newspaper bought it back for more than they had it sold it Supreme Audit Office (NKU) has since flagged the buyback as legally and financially its statement, the European Public Prosecutor's Office said it suspected the procedure for buying military aid for Ukraine was "rigged and that the ammunition may have been overpriced".Of the eight people it said had been detained were four officials from the ministry of Jaroslav Nad, who now heads the Demokrati party, which has no seats in parliament, says the entire case is built on the fact that the previous government had come to Ukraine's aid."The ruling coalition needs to show its voters that their promises — that I would end up in prison for this help — are being fulfilled," he told the BBC from the Canadian city of Calgary."It is purely and simply a political process, and it demonstrates the pro-Russian direction of the Slovak government and the emerging autocracy in the style of Russia or Belarus."Senior ministers in the Fico government – who came to power on a promise to halt military aid to Ukraine – have denied allegations of political Minister Robert Kalinak told reporters that criminal proceedings were initiated based on an audit office report and were now continuing independently under the European Public Prosecutor's former minister has vowed to co-operate fully with the investigation on his return to Fico famously promised "not to send one more round of ammunition" to Ukraine shortly before he won parliamentary elections in September a visit to the economy ministry on Tuesday, he said: "I have a feeling that things are shifting in the world... In these absurd times of rearmament, when arms companies are rubbing their hands together just like pharmaceutical companies did during Covid, neutrality would suit Slovakia very well."The previous Slovak government had supplied not just munitions but also donated its sole S-300 surface-to-air missile battery as well as its entire fleet of 13 decommissioned MiG-29 fighter jets to while the Fico government quickly halted the supply of Slovak army surplus stocks to Kyiv, commercial arms companies in Slovakia continue to play an important role in delivering ammunition and heavy weaponry to Ukraine.
Russia Today
2 days ago
- Business
- Russia Today
Ditching Russian gas could cost EU state €16 billion
Slovakia could face €16 billion (over $18 billion) in penalties for cutting short a long-term gas deal with Russia's Gazprom under the EU's proposed phaseout plan, the country's state-owned gas importer SPP has warned, according to Reuters. Under the so-called REPowerEU plan, Brussels aims to eliminate the EU's reliance on Russian fossil fuels by 2028. The controversial legislation, supported by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, would ban new gas contracts with Russia from 2026 and long-term ones by the end of 2027. The Commission has said it is considering legal avenues to enable European companies to claim force majeure, allowing them to terminate Russian gas contracts without penalties. SPP, which has a supply agreement with Gazprom until 2034, said on Tuesday that even if it invokes force majeure, the Russian energy giant may still seek compensation if an EU-wide import ban comes into force. Slovakia has repeatedly stressed the risks of cutting off Russian supplies, warning it would drive up prices across Europe and undermine energy security. Along with Hungary, Austria and reportedly Italy, Bratislava has opposed sanctions on Russian gas, which currently require unanimous backing from all EU member states. Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico slammed the new phaseout plan as 'economic suicide.' Unlike sanctions, however, this plan is expected to be introduced as trade legislation, requiring the support of just 15 out of 27 EU members to pass, Reuters noted. Slovakia's energy setup leaves it particularly vulnerable. The landlocked country depends on Russia for about 85% of the gas it uses. In February, Slovakia began receiving Russian supplies via the TurkStream pipeline after Kiev halted gas transit through Ukraine, avoiding a domestic energy crisis. The country had already experienced a significant reduction in Russian gas imports due to Ukraine-related sanctions on Moscow and the 2022 sabotage of the Nord Stream pipeline. The EC's proposal will now go through the EU's co-decision legislative process, requiring approval from both the European Parliament and the Council.
Gulf Insider
2 days ago
- Politics
- Gulf Insider
Slovak PM Fico Questions NATO Membership, Sparks Backlash Over Call For Neutrality
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has sparked a political debate after publicly suggesting that Slovakia might benefit from adopting a neutral stance in foreign policy — an idea that would mean withdrawal from the NATO alliance. Speaking during a visit to the Ministry of Economy, Fico asked, 'Wouldn't Slovakia's neutrality be good in this crazy period? I put this question very officially, very clearly.' Though he admitted the decision was not in his hands, he added, 'What are we all dragged into? What kind of war are you talking about? Who on earth wants to fight with whom? I still don't know.' As reported by Denník Postoj, the Slovak premier also denounced plans by the European Union to increase defense spending, criticizing what he called the 'senseless times of armaments' and comparing weapons manufacturers to pharmaceutical firms profiting during the COVID-19 pandemic. 'How do you want to spend the €800 billion that the Union is talking about? That's impossible,' he said. His remarks sparked outrage among his political opposition. Michal Šimečka, leader of Progressive Slovakia (PS), described Fico's remarks as 'absolutely scandalous,' saying, 'He is questioning our entire foreign policy anchorage, breaking our relations with key partners and throwing us to Putin.' Karol Galek of the center-right Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) party, pointed to Ukraine's experience as a warning, noting that its neutrality was supposedly guaranteed by Russia — until it was invaded. 'If there is a war in our country, there is only a threat from Russia,' Galek said, adding that neutrality would place the full financial burden of national defense on Slovakia. 'The Baltics and Poland are already at 5 percent [in defense spending] because they are aware that the threat is already behind their gates. The threat is Russia,' added Milan Majerský of the Christian Democratic Movement (KDH), who warned neutrality would result in an overwhelming and unsustainable hike in Slovakia's defense budget. Slovak President Peter Pellegrini also responded to Fico's remarks. 'I respect his opinion. Maybe he really thinks that Slovakia should be a neutral country, but in this way, a general discussion can be provoked, which can again result in some kind of petition action,' he said. 'A statesman can never question the security of the state. Neutrality does not mean that you are friends with everyone around you and no one can hurt you, but that you have to guarantee everything yourself,' he warned. The Slovak president did, however, acknowledge the political nature of Fico's comments, which he suggested have been made to spark a political discussion. 'I consider it a provocative idea, for which the prime minister is an expert – to overwhelm the public space with a topic that we will all discuss, but nothing will come of it anyway,' Pellegrini said. 'At the moment, it is unnecessary and risky.'
Reuters
3 days ago
- Politics
- Reuters
Slovak police seek former defence minister over Ukraine aid, media report
June 18 (Reuters) - Slovak police attempted to detain a former defence minister and other former officials on Wednesday as part of investigations into how military aid was given to Ukraine, media outlets reported. The police confirmed they were carrying out seizure operations in a prosecution initiated by the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO), but gave no more details. Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok said on Facebook a team investigating ammunition donations to Ukraine under the former government, after Russia's invasion in 2022, was involved. EPPO did not immediately reply to a request for comment. News website Dennik N said police had sought to detain former defence minister Jaroslav Nad, who is out of the country on vacation, and another former ministry official. Nad has previously denied allegations of wrongdoing related to Ukraine aid. Police had detained the former head of a state-owned defence firm, Dennik N said. Slovakia's leftist-nationalist government under Prime Minister Robert Fico has taken sharp policy turns since taking power in 2023, including stopping military aid to Ukraine and seeking better ties with Russia, which supplies oil and gas to the country. Last year, Fico's government accused the previous administration of treason and other offences for various donations to Ukraine. In November, an investigation into discrepancies into data on the donations was set up. A report from the Supreme Audit Office last year had said errors related to budgetary rules were made in purchasing ammunition for Ukraine and it had handed findings to police. Nad has denied allegations against him, and he said on Wednesday on social media that he was on vacation in Canada and due to return at the end of the month. "Today's theatre honestly did not surprise or bother me," Nad said on Facebook. "I will keep repeating to myself how proud I am of how we helped Ukraine. I would do it again. And again." Separately, the government has also called on police to investigate the previous government for donating MiG-29 fighter planes and an air defence system to Ukraine. Fico has been vocally critical of European Union policy to Ukraine, saying weapons supplies prolong the war with Russia. On Tuesday, he criticised plans of NATO, in which Slovakia is a member, to ramp up spending in the coming years and for the first time questioned Slovakia's place in the military alliance by saying neutrality would benefit the country.
The Sun
3 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
Slovak PM Fico raises neutrality before NATO summit
PRAGUE: NATO member Slovakia would benefit from neutrality, Prime Minister Robert Fico said on Tuesday, questioning for the first time the central European country's membership in the alliance that is rushing to bolster its deterrence against Russia. The comment has no near-term practical implications but is the latest in a stream of anti-Western positions Fico has taken since taking office for the fourth time in 2023. 'If you ask me, I tell you that in these nonsensical times of arms buildup, when arms companies are rubbing their hands ... neutrality would benefit Slovakia very much,' he told a press conference shown online. 'But unfortunately, this decision is not in my hands,' he said, without giving details. However, any decision by Slovakia to leave NATO would be a complex process that would include a decision by parliament. Fico was reacting to NATO's plans to boost defence spending. Fico has been on a collision course with Western partners, taking a pro-Russian stance on the war in Ukraine, and sparring with the European Union over Slovakia's desire to continue importing Russian gas and oil, as well as domestic reforms affecting justice and media. An ally of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, Fico has also floated the idea that the EU may be facing a break-up. No NATO member has left the alliance since it was founded in 1949. President Peter Pellegrini - an ally of Fico - called the prime minister's remarks a provocative political play, and pledged not to break consensus at the June 24-25 NATO summit. Fico's leftist-nationalist government coalition has stopped official state military aid to Kyiv as it battles Russia's invasion, and nurtured ties with Moscow. 'ABSURD, IRRESPONSIBLE, DANGEROUS' NATO leaders will discuss a gradual spending increase to 5% of gross domestic product, with 3.5% for military spending and 1.5% for infrastructure and similar projects. Fico said any defence spending increase should apply to dual military and civilian use, and that he did not understand the need for a quick military buildup. 'Would neutrality suit Slovakia? I am putting this question very officially and clearly,' he said. 'What war are we talking about? Who are we going to fight with?' Pellegrini, who will lead Slovakia's delegation to the NATO summit, said the spending increase should spread over at least 10 years, beyond a 2032 deadline being discussed. Fico's comments on neutrality prompted criticism, including from Fico's coalition partner. The biggest opposition party, Progressive Slovakia, called Fico's comments 'absurd, irresponsible, and dangerous.'
