Stories from Slovakia

A court sentenced a man to 21 years in prison for a terrorist attack involving the shooting of Prime Minister Robert Fico in May 2024. The attacker did not personally attend the first-instance court proceedings. The Supreme Court of Slovakia has upheld a 21-year prison sentence for a 73-year-old man. The sentence was confirmed by the Supreme Court in Bratislava during an appeals process. The attack, which occurred nearly two years ago, left the politician with life-threatening injuries. Zintola, a former security employee and hobbyist writer, claimed the shots were intended only as a warning and not to kill Robert Fico. He has challenged the severity of the Prime Minister's injuries and the verdict. The Slovakian Prosecutor General's office has classified the attack on Prime Minister Fico as terrorism and stated a 21-year prison sentence is appropriate.

US-based Westinghouse will conduct an analysis for the construction of a new nuclear source in Jaslovské Bohunice, Slovakia. The project is being funded by a grant from the United States government.

Slovaks have initiated an uprising against the government of Tisa. The movement comes as military forces press the borders of Czechoslovakia. German forces are reportedly attempting to reclaim a city in the region. The conflict involves tank concentrations near strategic road junctions and mountain passes. Slovak citizens have begun an uprising against the government led by Tisa. A strong uprising has begun against the Tisa government in Slovakia. The report indicates German forces are moving from the west to seize key road junctions to assist a northern group. The situation remains developing according to the broadcast.

Francesco Calzona is no longer the head coach of the Slovakia national football team. The 57-year-old former Napoli and Karpaty Lviv coach rejected a two-year contract extension proposal from the football association. His contract expired on March 31. Calzona had held the position since August 2022. His final match was a 2-0 friendly victory against Romania.

The director of Slovak Radio and Television has been dismissed following a decision by the Ministry of Culture. This action is part of a restructuring that includes new leadership for the public broadcaster. The first strike was initiated by members of the strike committee, and other committee members are now losing their jobs.

The Slovak Republic has reported a reduction in fraudulent sick leave claims, leading to savings of 80 million euros in the first quarter compared to 2024. This decrease suggests improved oversight or a decline in illegitimate claims.

The broadcast of the Slovakian film awards was cancelled after officials decided not to air the ceremony live. This decision followed concerns regarding potential criticism from the government during the event. In response, numerous prominent actors have refused to cooperate with state television. This boycott has resulted in a shortage of talent for upcoming television series productions.

A business owned by the family of Slovakian politician Babiš has been fined 21 million euros.

Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico stated that the conflict in Ukraine has no military solution and must be resolved through diplomacy. Fico's comments follow reports from the EU regarding the resumption of Russian oil supplies via the Druzhba pipeline to Slovakia and Hungary. The pipeline had been blocked by Kyiv since late January due to reported damages. Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky held a phone call to discuss visits between Kyiv and Bratislava. Zelensky stated the importance of strong relations between their countries and expressed that Slovakia supports Ukraine's membership in the European Union. Both leaders announced the discussion on their social media.

Demonstrators are marching through Bratislava to protest the administration of Robert Fico. The protests are driven by concerns regarding pro-Russian foreign policy, corruption, and interference in the judiciary and police. Additionally, protesters are reacting to recent government actions affecting media and cultural independence.