Kaliňák took money from arms dealer Strnad even as…

Kaliňák took money from arms dealer Strnad even as minister, documents show

15.09.2026 11:04 HotInfo

Documents obtained by Seznam Zprávy show that a company of Slovak Defense Minister Robert Kaliňák received millions for lobbying on behalf of Czech arms billionaire Michal Strnad. According to the findings, payments continued even during the period when Kaliňák already held the post of minister. The lobbying activities primarily concerned promoting the Tatra truck brand, which Strnad owns, on the market in the United Arab Emirates. domov.sme.sk ↗

Detailed data on the financial flows between a company linked to Kaliňák and Strnad's business describe how the Slovak defense minister participated in the Czech entrepreneur's business activities beyond the scope of his political office. The fact that the money kept flowing even after he entered government raises questions about a possible conflict of interest between holding public office and private business ties to the arms industry.

Strnad ranks among the most prominent Czech entrepreneurs in the arms and automotive sectors, among other things thanks to his ownership of the Tatra brand. The effort to establish Tatra trucks on the market in the Persian Gulf, specifically in the United Arab Emirates, was one of the main goals of the lobbying activities in which Kaliňák took part.

The case, which was made public by Seznam Zprávy, has also reached Slovakia, where local media have reported on it. Neither the Ministry of Defense nor Kaliňák has immediately commented on the content of the documents. The case thus remains open, and further questions can be expected from the opposition and oversight bodies regarding the transparency of funding for politicians linked to the business environment.