Slovakia’s opposition Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) party has called on Prime Minister Robert Fico to immediately dismiss Interior Minister Matúš Šutaj Eštok following a scandal involving road cameras containing Russian components.
The party described the installation of the devices on Slovak roads as a “security scandal” and further evidence that the minister is unfit for office. SaS MP Juraj Krúpa also criticised the Slovak Information Service (SIS) for failing to identify the risks or intervene.
The controversy began when Progressive Slovakia highlighted the close resemblance of the radars to products made by the Russian company Simicon. The cameras were acquired through intermediaries, including a Cypriot shell company, and matched Russian models in both appearance and technical specifications. The Interior Ministry initially insisted the devices were not Russian, citing official certificates. It later acknowledged that the origin of key components could not be verified, ordered the removal of test units and referred the matter to the National Security Authority.
On 12 August 2026, Šutaj Eštok confirmed that the cameras contain Russian components and pose a security risk, according to the National Security Authority. He said the ministry had been misled by supplier Soitron and was ending cooperation with the company. The minister maintained that only two devices had been tested, that they were never connected to the ministry’s protected systems, and that full operational use of such cameras had never been planned.
The opposition dismissed these explanations as inadequate, describing the episode as a serious failure to protect national security. The demand for the minister’s resignation comes amid broader criticism of his handling of the police force and previous controversies.