Defence Ministry Filing Criminal Complaint over Donated MiG-29s

Bratislava, June 21 (TASR) - The Defence Ministry is filing a criminal complaint concerning Slovakia's donation of MiG-29 fighter jets and part of the Kub air defence system to Ukraine, with State Secretary Igor Melicher confirming that the complaint concerns suspicions of sabotage, misuse of powers and breach of duty in the management of state property. Melicher explained that the complaint is being filed against the former interim government of Eduard Heger, including former defence minister Jaroslav Nad. Melicher reiterated that there never was any legal analysis that would authorise the donation of the aircraft to Ukraine by the interim government of Eduard Heger. The analysis that was presented at the time by Nad didn't meet the requirements of an official document, claimed Melicher. In March 2023, the interim government of Eduard Heger decided to provide Ukraine with thirteen Slovak MiG-29 fighters and part of the Kub air-defence system. A number of politicians and lawyers argued that the interim cabinet didn't have the authority to donate the MiGs, as they considered the donation to be a serious foreign policy issue. Then-defence minister Jaroslav Nad published a legal analysis of the Defence Ministry that allegedly served as one of the opinions on which it based its decision-making on Facebook in May 2023. zel/mcs