Supreme Court Upholds Acquittal of Ex-Justice Minister Harabin

Bratislava, 13 January (TASR) – The Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld the acquittal by the Specialised Criminal Court of former Supreme Court chief and ex-justice minister (2006-09) Stefan Harabin, who had faced charges over his approval of Russia's aggression against Ukraine, TASR learnt on Tuesday. The Supreme Court dismissed the prosecutor's appeal, which had sought to return the case to the court of first instance for a renewed hearing and decision. The ruling is final. According to the Supreme Court, the Specialised Criminal Court assessed the evidence thoroughly and the contested judgment contained no defects. The appellate court also found that it had not been proven that the act described in the indictment constituted a criminal offence. The Specialised Criminal Court in Pezinok acquitted Harabin in late May last year. Judge Jan Buvala ruled that the act that led to the prosecution was not a criminal offence. The indictment concerned the misdemeanour of defaming a nation, race or belief, and the misdemeanour of approving of a criminal offence. A prosecutor from the former Office of the Special Prosecutor filed the indictment in June 2023. The case concerned a statement made by Harabin shortly after the start of Russia's aggression against Ukraine. Harabin wrote on social media that he would have done the same as Russian President Vladimir Putin, referring to the invasion as the pacification of Nazis. mf/df