Related releases

 

Due to some wrong interpretations of cooperation between the Finnish and Slovenian investigators published in some media, we are releasing the response of police.

In the Patria case, the Slovenian police together with the State Prosecutor's Office continue criminal investigation, carrying out all required activities, also within the framework of international police cooperation with foreign security authorities. Cooperation between the Finnish and Slovenian investigators is very good, which was also emphasised by the Finnish investigators themselves on several occasions.

After the arrest of two Slovenian citizens, the Slovenian police has received no formal request by the Finnish judicial and security authorities, as detention order that would be valid in Slovenia or other member states of the European Union, has not been issued. This, of course, does not mean that we do not inform each other about mutual activities or that the Finnish investigators have not informed us about this matter as falsely reported by one commmercial TV broadcaster. At this point, the Slovenian police cannot - in the interest of further investigation - inform the public about individual activities or any other circumstances or findings.

However, we can tell that a Slovenian citizen cannot be arrested by Slovenian police on the basis of the Detention order in absence as provided for by the Finnish domestic legislation. Arresting is possible on the basis of the European warrant for arrest and surrender or on the basis of an international warrant for arrest.

In accordance with the Framework decision on the European arrest warrant and the surrender procedures, and in accordance with the Act on Cooperation in Criminal Matters with EU Member States, the competent  Finnish Court can submit the European warrant for arrest and surrender directly to the competent court in the Republic of Slovenia. National citizens can be arrested and surrendered  to the requesting state  in accordance with this warrant. The decision on surrender of persons lies then exclusively with the competent judicial authorities of the Republic of Slovenia.