Key facts
- The current Slovak government, led by Prime Minister Robert Fico, has criticized the 2023 donation of military equipment to Ukraine.
- The previous investigation into the donation concluded that the jets were outdated and not fully operational, deeming the donation not a crime.
- The chief prosecutor stated the previous investigation ended prematurely without establishing sufficient facts for a decision.
Slovakia's top prosecutor ordered a new investigation on Friday into the donation of MiG-29 fighter jets and air defense systems to Ukraine by the previous government. The current administration, led by Prime Minister Robert Fico, has been critical of the 2023 donation, which was previously closed by prosecutors earlier this year. Fico's government, which has shifted to a more pro-Russian foreign policy and halted military aid to Ukraine, has argued that the donation left Slovakia dependent on allied air patrols. The chief prosecutor, Maros Zilinka, stated on Facebook that the prior investigation ended prematurely without establishing sufficient facts for a decision. A regional prosecutor had previously concluded that the donated Soviet-era equipment was outdated and not fully operational, and that the donation did not constitute a crime.