Slovakia: Dispute erupts over sale of military scrap for Uganda

A political spat has erupted in Slovakia over the sale of military hardware, with former Defense Minister Jaroslav Naď accusing the current government of selling off functional equipment as scrap for a fraction of its value. Naď points to two batteries of the 2K12 Kub air defense system, currently located at a private company's facility near Zvolen, as evidence.

Naď, a leader of the Democrats party, argues that available contracts suggest the machinery was sold cheaply. This issue is particularly sensitive for Naď, as he faces persistent criticism from Defense Minister Robert Kaliňák and Prime Minister Robert Fico for allegedly leaving Slovakia disarmed by sending equipment to Ukraine.

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He says they are gutted machines.

Kaliňák, however, defends the current administration by stating that the agreement for the "Kub" systems was initiated during Naď's time as minister. He suggests the machines were already "gutted" and non-functional when they were dealt with. The dispute raises questions about the transparency and valuation of military asset sales in Slovakia and fuels the ongoing political debate between the ruling and opposition parties.

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He claims they are functional machines and infers from available contracts that they could have been sold as scrap and below their value.