'Slovakia': Police Omits Likely Financing of Ukrainian Suspect by Russian Actors

Bratislava, 16 July (TASR) – The opposition's 'Slovakia' party has lambasted the Slovak police for failing to inform the public that the activities of a detained Ukrainian suspect were most likely financed by Russian actors. The suspect was arrested by a joint police team from Slovakia, the Czech Republic, and Ukraine in connection with investigations into bomb threats targeting Slovak and Czech schools in September 2024. MP Roman Mikulec of 'Slovakia' referred to media reports indicating that Slovak police shared information about the case prematurely - despite the Czech side requesting them not to. He also highlighted that it was the Czech Security Information Service (BIS) that first disclosed the probable Russian financing. „This fact was deliberately withheld by the Slovak police. We are asking why,” Mikulec stated, calling it a disgrace for Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok (Voice-SD). The party underlined that such omissions helped the Slovak police spread Russian propaganda. Interior Minister Sutaj Estok rejected what he sees as the "denigration" of Slovak police’s work. „I strongly urge everyone, including our Czech colleagues, to be restrained in their statements and to show respect, humility, and decency,” the minister wrote on social media on Wednesday. Earlier in the day, the Slovak police reported that together with their Czech and Ukrainian counterparts, they carried out an operation in the Ukrainian city of Dnipro, detaining one Ukrainian suspect linked to the bomb threat investigations. The Czech police later confirmed the joint operation, stating the suspect had been active not only in the Czech Republic and Slovakia but across many European countries. The Czech police said criminal proceedings are ongoing, including investigations into other possible persons involved in organizing or financing the threatening emails. Shortly after, the Czech BIS stated that the suspect’s activities were most likely financed by Russian actors. mf