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Former Slovak Minister Charged for Praising Russian Invasion of Ukraine

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BNN Correspondents
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The chief prosecutor's office spokesperson, Zuzana Drobova, confirmed that Harabin has been charged with defamation.
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Image Credit: Bangkok Post

The Slovak top prosecutor's office has taken action against former justice minister and former Supreme Court chief justice Stefan Harabin for a Facebook post in which he praised Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The incident occurred on February 24, 2022, just a day after Russian troops entered Ukraine. In his Facebook post, Harabin expressed that he would have taken the same actions as Russian President Vladimir Putin. The chief prosecutor's office spokesperson, Zuzana Drobova, confirmed that Harabin has been charged with defamation and the endorsement of a crime. However, further details regarding the ongoing criminal proceedings were not disclosed.

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Harabin Faces Legal Consequences for Controversial Statements

According to the Dennik N daily, if convicted, Harabin could face up to three years in prison. Despite the potential consequences, Harabin boldly stated that he is proud of his statement and would willingly repeat it. He argued that Russia's actions were in accordance with international law. In a video interview posted on YouTube, Harabin further expressed his belief that it was Russia's duty to eliminate what he referred to as "Ukrainian Nazis," accusing them of causing the deaths of thousands of innocent people in the Donbas region since 2014.

(Read Also: Former Slovak Justice Minister Charged Over Facebook Post Praising Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine)

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Harabin's political history adds to the controversy surrounding the charges. As a former Communist, he served as justice minister during the first cabinet of populist prime minister Robert Fico from 2006 to 2009. During his tenure, he faced allegations of having a phone call with a mafia boss and abruptly dismissing seven regional court heads without providing a reason. Furthermore, Harabin has been a vocal critic of the European Union (EU), serving two terms as Supreme Court chief justice and running for president in 2019, ultimately losing to Zuzana Caputova, the current head of state.

(Read Also: EU Extends Import Restrictions on Ukrainian Grain)

Harabin's past actions on social media have also attracted criticism. He has been known to share fake news regarding migrants on Facebook, perpetuating misinformation. Additionally, he has openly criticized the EU's imposition of sanctions on Russia. In contrast, Slovakia, an EU member with a population of 5.4 million, has been actively providing significant humanitarian and military aid to Ukraine in response to the Russian invasion.

Prosecution LegalConsequences BNNSlovakiaReports ControversialStatements StefanHarabin
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