Slovak Military Police marks 35th anniversary

A ceremony to mark the 35th anniversary of the establishment of the Slovak Military Police took place on 11 February 2026 at the Ministry of Defence in Bratislava. Participants in attendance included senior SVK Ministry of Defence and Armed Forces officials led by Secretary General of the Service Office Peter Krajčírovič and Deputy Chief of Defence Brig Gen Marek Banas. The ceremonial event was also honoured with the presence of Bishop of the SVK RC Ordinariate of the Armed Forces and Armed Corps Mons Pavol Šajgalík and Chief of the Czech Military Police Maj Gen Jiří Roček and his accompanying delegation, as well as bringing together the chiefs and directors of the SVK Military Police, past and present.

The contemporary history of the SVK Military Police commenced with the formation of the “Military Police of the Czechoslovak Army” on 21 January 1991. Established following Order No. 76 of 29 December 1990 issued by the then Minister of Defence of the Czech and Slovak Federal Republic with the aim of undertaking Force Protection (FP) tasks in support of operations by the Czechoslovak Army, the Military Police has formed an integral part of the Ministry of Defence since its very beginning.

With its origins going back to the founding of the Slovak Republic as an independent, sovereign and democratic state, the “Army of the Slovak Republic” was officially stood up on 1 January 1993, as was the Slovak Military Police (SVK MP). This has since then gradually undergone a complex transformation process, assuming a significant role in the system securing the defence of our country. In delivering on our commitments arising from the international treaties to which Slovakia is bound, the SVK MP has undertaken tasks on NATO, UN and EU missions and operations as a recognised partner.

Over the past years, the SVK MP has built a strong position among the security forces in Slovakia, whereas its role in national security is to enforce law and order across the regular Armed Forces establishments, ensuring that the legal framework in the military remains essential and irreplaceable.

In his keynote speech at the ceremony, Col Róbert Beták, Director of the Military Police of the Ministry of Defence of the Slovak Republic, delivered a personal message of gratitude to all serving and ex-service members of the SVK MP and to all those who have participated in its development, underscored the MP personnel’s skills, readiness, professionalism and resilience as proof of the credibility that the SVK MP has earned over the past years, outlined its challenges and tasks in today’s turbulent times, and set out the future vision for the SVK MP to support the Armed Forces “come what may”.

The anniversary event culminated with a medal presentation ceremony – with the Director of the SVK MP pinning the 80th Anniversary Slovak National Uprising and End of World War II Commemorative Medals and the SVK Military Police Medals on the chests of selected personnel. He then presented the SVK Military Police Medals and commemorative plaques to invited guests for maintaining a high level of cooperation before handing out the commemorative plaques to former chiefs and directors of the SVK MP as a token of appreciation for their service.

This ceremonial gathering was made even more special by musical performances from the SVK Armed Forces Band. At the conclusion of the event, attendees watched a short film documenting the SVK MP – its operations, capabilities and skillsets.

Over the past 35 years, our MP personnel have demonstrated the ability to accomplish their assigned tasks and duties at a high level of professional competence, across both national and international military structures, task forces, and operations. They have greatly contributed to enhancing the good name and prestige of the SVK Ministry of Defence and Armed Forces, locally and globally.

Our sincere gratitude and appreciation go out to all the members of the SVK Military Police for their tireless work and dedication to duty, for performing their duties to the highest standards of professionalism, and for not hesitating to serve whenever and wherever the situation demands it, both at home and abroad.