Slovakia's Prosecutor General Maroš Žilinka has overturned the decision to discontinue criminal proceedings regarding the transfer of military equipment to Ukraine by the country's previous government. The case is to be reopened and additional investigation conducted.
The Slovak news agency TASR reported this on October 30, citing a statement from the prosecutor general.
Žilinka explained that he reviewed the legality of actions taken by prosecutors of the Bratislava Regional Prosecutor's Office, the department for combating serious crimes of the General Prosecutor's Office, and an investigator of the Police Presidium, who had previously decided to close the case.
Based on the review results, the prosecutor general concluded that the criminal proceedings were discontinued prematurely. In his opinion, the investigation did not establish all the circumstances necessary for making a well-founded decision.
The proceedings relate to suspicion of breach of duties in property management and abuse of authority by public officials. Investigators were examining the legality of the previous government's decisions to transfer military equipment to Ukraine.
The further investigation will be conducted under the supervision of the regional prosecutor in Trenčín. Žilinka instructed to ensure the recommencement of criminal proceedings and to carry out the necessary investigative actions in accordance with the law.
The case concerns military aid that Slovakia provided to Ukraine in 2023. At that time, the government of Eduard Heger decided to transfer 13 MiG-29 fighter jets and components of the Kub anti-aircraft missile systems to the Ukrainian army.
After Robert Fico's government came to power, law enforcement agencies began examining the legality of the equipment transfer. Representatives of the current government questioned the authority of the previous government to make such decisions and claimed possible harm to Slovakia's state interests.
However, in October 2025, an investigator discontinued criminal proceedings regarding the transfer of MiG-29 fighter jets and Kub systems. In January 2026, the prosecutor's office rejected an appeal against this decision.
In September, the Slovak General Prosecutor's Office re-examined the case materials and reported that the law enforcement decisions were lawful and justified. At that time, the office found no grounds to consider the transfer of military equipment a criminal offense.
The current decision by Maroš Žilinka changes the procedural status of the case, but does not by itself establish a crime or guilt of representatives of the former government.
Former Slovak Defense Minister Jaroslav Naď said he respects the prosecutor general's decision but continues to insist on the legality of military aid to Ukraine.
According to the former minister, investigators and prosecutors at various levels had previously concluded that no criminal offense was committed. Naď said he does not expect fundamentally different results after the investigation is reopened.
He also emphasized that the previous Slovak government acted in accordance with national and international law, including the provisions of the UN Charter regarding support for a state subjected to armed aggression.
At the same time, news of today's decision does not automatically mean the reopening of all previously closed proceedings related to Slovak military aid. In particular, law enforcement separately examined the circumstances of transferring the S-300 air defense system to Ukraine and the termination of a contract with a Russian company that serviced the fighter jets.
