Slovakia's Prosecutor General Maros Zilinka reopened a criminal case against former Prime Minister Eduard Heger and former Defence Minister Jaroslav Nad on October 30 over their government's military donations to Ukraine.
Zilinka transferred prosecutorial supervision from Bratislava to a regional prosecutor in Trencin to ensure sufficient evidence is gathered. He described the previous investigation as having been "closed prematurely."
"During the preparatory proceedings, the facts were not established to the extent necessary to make a decision," he said.
Heger's caretaker government approved the donation of 13 MiG-29 fighter jets and part of Slovakia's Soviet-era KUB air defence systems in March 2023. All the aircraft reached Ukraine by April that year, making Slovakia the first country to deliver fighter aircraft after Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.
Prime Minister Robert Fico's administration filed a criminal complaint against Heger and Nad in June 2024. The defence ministry accused them of sabotage, abuse of power and mismanagement of public property. Both former officials have denied the allegations.
Fico has long criticised Western military aid to Ukraine and the defence assistance provided by the previous Slovak government. Current Defence Minister Robert Kalinak has also accused Nad of treason.
The case had been closed in February by Bratislava regional prosecutor Rastislav Remeta. The Bratislava prosecutor's office had previously said, on November 10, 2025, that Slovakia's transfer of military aid to Ukraine did not constitute a criminal offence.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The reopened inquiry places former Slovak leaders' wartime aid decisions under renewed criminal investigation. The allegations remain contested, and reopening the case is not a finding of guilt.
- It also brings a disagreement within the prosecution service into focus: Bratislava prosecutors previously found no criminal offence, while Zilinka says the investigation was incomplete.
Background
Military transfers can raise separate questions about political judgement, government authority and the handling of public assets. A criminal inquiry addresses whether officials broke the law, rather than whether the underlying foreign policy was desirable.
Key Perspectives
Maros Zilinka: Says the investigation was closed prematurely and that the facts had not been established sufficiently to support a decision.
Fico administration and defence ministry: Accuse Heger and Nad of sabotage, abuse of power and mismanagement of public property over the transfer.
Eduard Heger and Jaroslav Nad: Deny the allegations.
Bratislava prosecutor's office: Previously concluded that Slovakia's military aid transfer did not constitute a criminal offence.
What to Watch
- Whether the renewed investigation produces evidence that changes the earlier prosecutorial assessment.
- Any subsequent decision by prosecutors to bring charges or close the case again.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 11 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedSlovakia reopened a criminal case over the donation of fighter jets to Ukraine.Kyiv Independent: “Slovakia's Prosecutor General Maros Zilinka said on Oct. 30 that he had reopened a criminal case against former Prime Minister Eduard Heger and former Defense Minister Jaroslav Nad over their decision to donate Slovakia's fleet of MiG-29 fighter jets and Soviet-era KUB air defense systems to Ukraine in spring 2023.”
- SupportedThe former prime minister and defence minister deny allegations linked to the transfer approved in 2023.Kyiv Independent: “The defense ministry accused the two of sabotage, abuse of power, and mismanagement of public property — allegations both Heger and Nad have denied.”
- Partly supportedZilinka reopened the case on October 30.Kyiv Independent: “Slovakia's Prosecutor General Maros Zilinka said on Oct. 30 that he had reopened a criminal case”
- SupportedZilinka described the previous investigation as having been “closed prematurely.”Kyiv Independent: “Zilinka said on Oct. 30 that the previous investigation had been "closed prematurely," prompting him to reopen the case.”
- SupportedZilinka said, “During the preparatory proceedings, the facts were not established to the extent necessary to make a decision.”Kyiv Independent: “"During the preparatory proceedings, the facts were not established to the extent necessary to make a decision," Zilinka said.”
- SupportedZilinka transferred prosecutorial supervision from Bratislava to a regional prosecutor in Trencin to ensure sufficient evidence is gathered.Kyiv Independent: “Zilinka reassigned prosecutorial supervision of the case from Bratislava to a regional prosecutor in Trencin to ensure that sufficient evidence is gathered.”
- SupportedHeger's caretaker government approved the donation of 13 MiG-29 jets and part of Slovakia's KUB air-defence systems in March 2023.Kyiv Independent: “Slovakia's caretaker government, headed by Heger, approved the donation of 13 MiG-29 fighter jets and part of the country's KUB air defense systems to Ukraine in March 2023.”
- SupportedAll 13 jets had reached Ukraine by April 2023.Kyiv Independent: “All 13 jets had been delivered by April that year”
- SupportedSlovakia was the first country to send fighter aircraft to Ukraine since Russia's full-scale invasion began in February 2022.Kyiv Independent: “making Slovakia the first country to send fighter aircraft to Ukraine since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.”
- SupportedFico's administration filed a criminal complaint against Heger and Nad in June 2024.Kyiv Independent: “In June 2024, his administration filed a criminal complaint against Heger and Nad over the jet transfer.”
- SupportedThe defence ministry accused Heger and Nad of sabotage, abuse of power and mismanagement of public property, and both denied the allegations.Kyiv Independent: “The defense ministry accused the two of sabotage, abuse of power, and mismanagement of public property — allegations both Heger and Nad have denied.”
- SupportedOn November 10, 2025, the Bratislava prosecutor's office said the transfer of military aid to Ukraine did not constitute a criminal offence.Kyiv Independent: “On Nov. 10, 2025, the Bratislava prosecutor's office said Slovakia's transfer of military aid to Ukraine did not constitute a criminal offense.”