Slovakia moves to tighten security amid rising Russia concerns
Flag of Slovakia (Photo: GettyImages)
Slovak President Peter Pellegrini has announced his intention to amend the constitution and introduce a new state of threat against the backdrop of an incident involving a Russian drone near the border with Ukraine, according to Noviny.
Reason for the initiative
The proposal was prompted by a massive attack on Ukraine, during which a drone ended up near the city of Perechyn in the Zakarpattia region.
The settlement is located approximately ten kilometers from the Slovak border, which raised concerns in Bratislava.
What changes are being proposed
The head of state announced that he plans to convene a roundtable in the near future.
At the meeting, military representatives will explain to political forces the essence of the proposed amendments and their significance for the country's security.
The president hopes the discussion will proceed without political conflict between the government and the opposition.
Why the new regime is needed
According to Pellegrini, current legislation provides only for peacetime and wartime, without any intermediate mechanisms.
As a result, the army's ability to respond to potential threats during peacetime is limited.
He noted that introducing the new status would allow for faster preventive measures in situations similar to the possible downing of drones or other objects heading toward the country's territory.
Slovak Foreign Minister Juraj Blanár stated that it is necessary to send specialists to the Druzhba pipeline, as Bratislava has doubts about the previously announced timeline for its restoration by the Ukrainian side.
Slovak Foreign Minister Juraj Blanár said Bratislava is participating in EU-level discussions on the possible lifting of sanctions against Russian businessmen Mikhail Fridman and Alisher Usmanov.
