BRATISLAVA – A new public dispute has erupted between Prime Minister Robert Fico and Prosecutor General Maroš Žilinka, this time over the investigation into Slovakia’s donation of MiG-29 fighter jets and military equipment to Ukraine. Fico claimed that he had a “sharp exchange of opinions” with Žilinka, after which the prosecutor general changed his stance on the case. On Monday, November 2, 2026, Žilinka firmly denied the claim, stating that no conversation on the subject ever took place with the prime minister. Regardless, the investigation into the donation of military technology is set to reopen.
The latest round of statements follows the prosecutor general’s decision on Friday, October 30.
After reviewing the actions of his subordinate prosecutors, Žilinka concluded that the investigation into the donation of military equipment to Ukraine had been closed prematurely.
He has therefore ordered the case to be reopened.
The case has been assigned to the jurisdiction of the prosecutor’s office in Trenčín.
Fico Claims Confrontation, Žilinka Publicly Denies It
On Saturday, October 31, Robert Fico commented on the prosecutor general’s decision.
The prime minister implied that Žilinka might have reconsidered his position on the donation of military equipment following their interaction.
According to Fico, there had been a “fairly sharp exchange of views” regarding the case.
The prosecutor general, however, publicly rejected these claims on Monday.
“There was never any exchange of views on this topic, and certainly not a fairly sharp one,” said Žilinka.
His account stands in direct contradiction to the prime minister’s version of events.
Žilinka also rejected the claim that he changed his view on the legality of the military donation after any discussion with Fico.
Žilinka Explains Why His Stance Could Not Have Changed
The prosecutor general says he had never previously issued any public statement about the merits of the investigation or the legitimacy of its original closure.
He stated that he only did so on October 30, after reviewing the legality of his subordinates’ actions.
Žilinka said this means that there was no earlier public position for him to revise.
“Therefore, there could not have been, nor has there been, any change in my opinion,” Žilinka emphasized.
He explained that the decision to reopen the case stems from an internal prosecutorial review, not from political discussions with the prime minister.
Tensions between the two officials are not new. Aktualizovane.sk has previously reported on Fico’s criticism of Žilinka following the decision in the MiG-29 affair, including talk of changes within the prosecutor’s office.
Investigation into MiG Jet Donation to Be Reopened
The prosecutor general’s decision means that law enforcement authorities are required to revisit the case.
The criminal investigation relating to the donation of MiG-29 fighter jets and other military equipment was previously halted.
At that time, the prosecutor’s office found there was insufficient reason to continue the criminal proceedings in the matter.
Žilinka has now concluded that the previous process requires renewed scrutiny.
This may mean gathering additional evidence and verifying circumstances that, according to Žilinka, were not sufficiently clarified.
Reopening the investigation does not mean a crime was committed or that anyone is guilty.
This is a procedural decision, and the outcome remains unknown at this stage.
What Is the MiG-29 Case About?
During the previous government, Slovakia provided military assistance to Ukraine, which included the delivery of MiG-29 fighter jets.
The decision to donate the jets became the focus of political controversy.
Robert Fico and members of the current governing coalition have long criticized the actions of the former defense ministry leadership.
They have particularly questioned whether the caretaker government had the authority and whether all legal requirements were met.
Former defense minister Jaroslav Naď rejects these criticisms.
He insists that the military aid to Ukraine was in line with both Slovak law and international regulations.
The differing legal positions have previously been examined by both the police and the prosecutor’s office.
Aktualizovane.sk also covered this issue in the article “Fico Accused Prosecutor’s Office of Political Battle. Žilinka Defended Prosecutor Remeta.”
Jaroslav Naď: No Crime Was Committed
Former defense minister and Demokrati party leader Jaroslav Naď also responded to the latest development.
Naď maintains that the donation of military equipment to Ukraine was legal.
He argues that previous assessments of the case found no evidence of a crime.
He also stated that he respects the decision of the prosecutor general.
However, in Naď’s view, further scrutiny is unlikely to change the fundamental conclusion.
This, he stressed, is his personal opinion as a former minister and not the final outcome of the reopened investigation.
The responsible authorities will now be required to review all relevant evidence once again.
MiG Dispute Escalates into Conflict Between Two Leading Figures
The latest statements highlight significant divisions between the prime minister and the prosecutor general.
Fico has repeatedly criticized decisions of the prosecutor’s office and, in September, even publicly called on Žilinka to resign.
The prosecutor general, on the other hand, stresses his duty to act according to the law, regardless of political demands.
Aktualizovane.sk previously reported on the prime minister’s call for Žilinka’s resignation and hints at prosecution reform.
However, the political dispute should not be confused with the criminal proceedings themselves.
Any decisions regarding the continuation of the investigation must be based on legal grounds, not government or opposition wishes.
Opposition Rejects Pressure on Prosecutor General
The tensions between Fico and Žilinka have also drawn reactions from opposition parties in the past.
SaS leader Branislav Gröhling has rejected the prime minister’s calls for the prosecutor general to step down.
He believes that any new prosecutor general should be chosen by parliament only after new elections.
More details are in the article “Gröhling Rejects Fico’s Pressure on Žilinka. Wants New Prosecutor Only After Elections.”
KDH representatives have also raised concerns over the prime minister’s actions.
They argue that political criticism of the prosecutor’s office should not escalate to attempts to influence specific decisions.
Aktualizovane.sk reported on their position in the article “KDH Urges Fico to Tone Down Criticism of Žilinka.”
What Comes Next?
The investigation into the donation of military technology will continue under new supervision.
It will be up to law enforcement to review the circumstances that the prosecutor general believes have not been sufficiently explained.
It is not yet known when the case will be definitively closed.
There is also no confirmation that the renewed investigation will lead to new charges.
The public dispute between Robert Fico and Maroš Žilinka, however, is ongoing.
The prime minister talks of a heated exchange and a change in the prosecutor general’s stance, which Žilinka categorically denies. The main question now is what the reopened investigation into the donation of military equipment will reveal.
For the latest updates on Slovak politics and criminal investigations, visit Aktualizovane.sk on stretnisa.online.
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Sources: Aktuality.sk, TASR, STVR, Noviny.sk, public statements by Robert Fico and Maroš Žilinka from October 31 and November 2, 2026.
This article was translated from the original Slovak version with the assistance of AI.
