In a move that has drawn sharp scrutiny over Slovakia’s diplomatic integrity and national security oversight, the country’s former foreign minister Ivan Korčok—widely regarded as a pro-Western figure—appointed Russian businessman Vasilij Shimko as honorary consul to Uzbekistan in 2021, despite Shimko’s overt alignment with Kremlin state interests and his commercial ties to a sanctioned Russian uranium producer. Shimko, a Moscow-based entrepreneur whose companies openly celebrate Russian military holidays and use Soviet-era symbols, officially represented Slovak interests in Tashkent while co-owning a Bratislava-registered firm that reported €13.7 million in annual revenues before plummeting to €28,000 the following year, amid undisclosed operations and links to a former agent of Czechoslovakia’s communist secret police. The appointment, which granted representational authority in a region central to Russian geopolitical strategy, remained in place until August 2024, when current foreign minister Juraj Blanár—serving under the government of Prime Minister Robert Fico—quietly revoked Shimko’s mandate and launched unspecified legal proceedings. Although the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs confirmed that Slovak security services were involved in the original vetting process, no public explanation has been given for the decision to dismiss Shimko, whose diplomatic tenure now raises wider concerns about legacy networks, transparency in foreign appointments, and the exposure of EU institutions to hostile influence during a period of heightened tension over Russian aggression in Ukraine.
In 2021, the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic appointed Vasilij Shimko, a Russian citizen and businessman, as the country’s honorary consul in Uzbekistan. The appointment was made under then-Foreign Minister Ivan Korčok, a pro-Western diplomat who previously served as Slovakia’s ambassador to the United States and Germany. Shimko, a Moscow-based entrepreneur with publicly visible support for the Russian state, officially represented Slovak interests in Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan—a country regarded as a key partner in the Russian Federation’s strategic influence across Central Asia.
Shimko’s business profile includes ownership of the Shimco Group, based in Russia, and co-ownership of SlavRoss, a Slovak-registered company. Both companies have expressed support for Russian state narratives, including the public celebration of national military holidays such as 9 May, known in Russia as Victory Day. This symbolism, notably the display of the red star, has persisted despite the ongoing war initiated by the Russian Federation against Ukraine in February 2022. The presence of such imagery has raised questions about the compatibility of Shimko’s ideological affiliations with his temporary role as a representative of a European Union and NATO member state.
In March 2024, Shimko continued to publicly act in his diplomatic capacity by attending an international conference in Spain, where he offered institutional backing for investment projects involving Uzbekistan. However, at the time of his appointment and throughout his tenure, his support for Russian state policies had already been publicly evident. His firm SlavRoss lists international trade as its area of operation, but its financial performance and ownership structure suggest a high level of opacity.
According to reporting by Slovak news outlet Aktuality.sk, SlavRoss reported annual revenues of €13.7 million in 2022, which then dropped sharply to €28,000 the following year. The company has declared zero employees since its registration in 2013 and maintains a minimal public presence, offering little transparency regarding its business model or clients. While the company claims to provide environmental safety technologies and maintains commercial links with countries including China, Turkey, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan, no verifiable operational details have been disclosed. Its business address in the Slovak capital, Bratislava, shows no physical signs of company activity aside from a mailbox.
The Slovak corporate registry also links Shimko to a residential address in the Bratislava borough of Lamač. According to land records, this property is owned by Zora Pališinová, who is listed in business filings alongside Ján Pališin. Pališin is identified in historical records as a former officer of the Štátna bezpečnosť (ŠtB), the secret police agency of the former Czechoslovak socialist regime. His service began in the 1980s and included assignments in counterintelligence and surveillance. Several of his companies are registered at the same Bratislava address as SlavRoss, though direct confirmation of a business relationship between Pališin and Shimko remains unverified.
The corporate trail further reveals that SlavRoss mandated a third party, Uzbek national Ivan Boyko, to establish a Turkish branch of the company. The only available data concerning this affiliate indicates that it participated in the 2023 export of coal from the Russian Federation to China. The coal originated from the Priargun enterprise, a mining firm based in Krasnokamensk and recognised as one of Russia’s major uranium producers. The company is currently subject to sanctions by Ukrainian authorities due to its ties to the Russian state and strategic resource sectors.
Following these developments, the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs confirmed that Shimko was officially removed from his position on 28 August 2024 by the current Foreign Minister Juraj Blanár, who represents the government of Prime Minister Robert Fico. While the ministry affirmed that Slovak security services had assessed Shimko during his initial nomination, it did not elaborate on the reasons for his dismissal. The ministry also stated that legal proceedings concerning Shimko’s activities were underway, but did not provide further details. As of publication, former Foreign Minister Ivan Korčok has not yet commented on the matter.
The article also notes a parallel diplomatic relationship: Ľudovít Černák, a former Slovak minister of economy turned businessman, currently serves as honorary consul of Uzbekistan in Slovakia. Černák is reportedly linked to Russian entrepreneur Yevgeny Zhulanov, with whom he co-owns a prominent hotel in Bratislava. Zhulanov has documented business connections to Konstantin Malofeev, a Kremlin-affiliated oligarch and media figure known for promoting Russian propaganda narratives.
Author: Peter Sabo | Source: Infosecurity.sk and Aktuality.sk
