**Slovak Ex-Minister Detained Over Ukraine Aid Donations**
Police in Slovakia have attempted to arrest former defence minister Jaroslav Nad over allegations of misuse of funds donated to Ukraine. However, the ex-minister was not at home when police arrived and later claimed he was on holiday abroad.
The case has sparked a heated debate in Slovakia about the country’s role in supporting Ukraine during the ongoing war with Russia. The current defence minister, Robert Kalinak, has accused Jaroslav Nad of treason for providing fighter jets to Ukraine. This has exposed deep divisions within the government and society over how to respond to the conflict.
**Investigation into Alleged Misuse of Funds**
The European Public Prosecutor’s Office in Bratislava has launched an investigation into alleged misuse of €7.4m (£6.3m) in funds meant for military aid to Ukraine. Eight people have been detained, including four officials from the ministry of defence. However, Jaroslav Nad claims that the entire case is politically motivated and intended to discredit him.
**Politics Play a Role**
The move by police to arrest Jaroslav Nad comes at a time when Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has floated the idea of neutrality for Slovakia. The country has been a member of Nato since 2004, but Fico’s government has taken a more populist-nationalist stance. This has led to tensions with Ukraine and its Western allies.
**Questions Over Aid Donations**
The investigation into Jaroslav Nad and others centres around the procurement of ammunition for Ukraine. Slovakia had previously sold off obsolete ammunition to state-owned defence company Konstrukta, but later bought it back for more than the original sale price. The Supreme Audit Office has flagged this as irregular, leading to suspicions that the procedure was “rigged” and that the ammunition may have been overpriced.
**A Divided Government**
The Fico government’s handling of the Ukraine crisis has been marked by controversy and disagreements within the administration. While some ministers deny allegations of political interference, others have hinted at a pro-Russian direction in Slovak politics. As tensions rise, it remains to be seen how this will affect Slovakia’s relationships with Western allies and Ukraine itself.
Read More @ www.bbc.com
