Minister Gajdoš files a motion to initiate an inquiry into the legality of the Slovak Recruits paramilitary organization
- Author:
- Photo:
- Date: 23.07.2018
- Share: Zdieľať na Facebook
SVK Minister of Defence Peter Gajdoš has filed a motion with the Office of the Prosecutor General to initiate an inquiry into the legality of the paramilitary group Slovak Recruits. The reason for this is that the group provides military training to Slovak citizens with an unclear objective and that it may have misused the SVK militaryʼs phased-out combat assets and the SVK Armed Forces insignia.
Speaking about the paramilitary group, Defence Minister Peter Gajdoš said: “Active duty service in the Armed Forces, Voluntary Military Training, and Active Reserves are today the only legal means available to our citizens to prepare for the defence of our homeland. That is why we will no longer tolerate the activities of the militant group, whose objectives and background are obscure.” He went on to add: “It is not acceptable for a parallel military group, which wants to alternate with the SVK Armed Forces, to operate in Slovakia.”
As General Secretary of the SVK MODʼs Service Office Ján Hoľko added, yet another problem is that there is a clear attempt of Kotleba MP –the Peopleʼs Party Our Slovakia to take control over the paramilitary organization. “This should be alarming not only to the media that give a space to them but also to all citizens,” he stressed. He further reminded that members of the Slovak Recruits have used and misused the Slovak Armed Forces insignia and uniforms, whereas there is currently no legislation to regulate it. “That is why we have already held talks with Parliamentary Chairman and SNS leader Andrej Danko, and in Autumn 2018 we will adopt, amongst others, legislative measures so that only service personnel are allowed to use the SVK Armed Forces uniforms,” he said.
Similarly, the MOD wants to make sure that the phased-out military weaponry and vehicles earmarked for disposal by sale of surplus equipment or as exhibits for museum purposes will not be misused in any way in the future. “It is unacceptable that a paramilitary organization is training with this equipment,” said the General Secretary of the SVK MODʼs Service Office. The MOD is currently looking into all agreements that have been concluded between the Institute of Military History and civil organizations. “We refuse to cooperate, in any way whatsoever, with the civil organizations where there might be just the slightest suspicion of military equipment being misused,” emphasised Minister Gajdoš.
Speaking about the paramilitary group, Defence Minister Peter Gajdoš said: “Active duty service in the Armed Forces, Voluntary Military Training, and Active Reserves are today the only legal means available to our citizens to prepare for the defence of our homeland. That is why we will no longer tolerate the activities of the militant group, whose objectives and background are obscure.” He went on to add: “It is not acceptable for a parallel military group, which wants to alternate with the SVK Armed Forces, to operate in Slovakia.”
As General Secretary of the SVK MODʼs Service Office Ján Hoľko added, yet another problem is that there is a clear attempt of Kotleba MP –the Peopleʼs Party Our Slovakia to take control over the paramilitary organization. “This should be alarming not only to the media that give a space to them but also to all citizens,” he stressed. He further reminded that members of the Slovak Recruits have used and misused the Slovak Armed Forces insignia and uniforms, whereas there is currently no legislation to regulate it. “That is why we have already held talks with Parliamentary Chairman and SNS leader Andrej Danko, and in Autumn 2018 we will adopt, amongst others, legislative measures so that only service personnel are allowed to use the SVK Armed Forces uniforms,” he said.
Similarly, the MOD wants to make sure that the phased-out military weaponry and vehicles earmarked for disposal by sale of surplus equipment or as exhibits for museum purposes will not be misused in any way in the future. “It is unacceptable that a paramilitary organization is training with this equipment,” said the General Secretary of the SVK MODʼs Service Office. The MOD is currently looking into all agreements that have been concluded between the Institute of Military History and civil organizations. “We refuse to cooperate, in any way whatsoever, with the civil organizations where there might be just the slightest suspicion of military equipment being misused,” emphasised Minister Gajdoš.
