Interior Ministry: Dispute Over Armoured Vehicles Resolved

Bratislava, 7 April (TASR) - The Interior Ministry has definitively closed a years-long dispute concerning two ballistically armoured vehicles worth nearly one million euros, Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok (Voice-SD) announced on Tuesday. The vehicles, ordered by the ministry in 2022 but left in a customs warehouse due to procedural errors, were taken over on Tuesday by members of the Special Operations Unit of the Police Corps Presidium, the ministry announced. The ministry specified that the armoured vehicles will serve the special unit in demanding operational tasks, particularly in protecting staff of diplomatic missions operating in Ukraine. "The Interior Ministry has corrected serious mistakes from the past, protected public finances and ensured that the already paid-for armoured vehicles can finally serve police officers in the performance of their demanding duties," claimed Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok. The problematic delivery involved vehicles for which the ministry, under former minister Roman Mikulec ('Slovakia'), had paid the full price of €969,890 including VAT before delivery. However, the customs authority detained the vehicles, classifying them as defence industry products requiring a special licence, which the supplier neither had nor could obtain. As a result, the delivery did not take place. The current leadership of the ministry initiated steps, including legal proceedings between the ministry and the supplier, Effective CarService, to resolve the situation. Negotiations ultimately led to an agreement on a legal procedure. A third party, the company Pyra, entered the agreement, taking over the original supplier's obligations and committing to secure the necessary licence. As part of the deal, the ministry obtained compensation in the form of one additional vehicle worth nearly €150,000 including VAT. "The compensation will be offset against contractual penalties and late-payment interest owed by Effective CarService, and all court disputes between the ministry and the supplier will be terminated, thus avoiding further costs of lengthy legal proceedings," Interior Ministry spokesperson Matej Neumann added. mf