L-R: M. Uhrík and M. Kotleba in parliament (source: TASR)
Uhrík, who is also office head of the Banská Bystrica Region (BBSK), was speaking on July 3 in response to the information that appeared in the media recently, stating that due to the changes in a transport regulation issued by the state-run passenger rail carrier ZSSK, the current People’s Party Our Slovakia-Kotleba (ĽSNS) patrols will have to withdraw from trains due to changed rules.
“ĽSNS is among the VIP clients of the rail carrier,” Uhrík told the TASR newswire. “At the moment, we have nine portable all-season train tickets valid for all rail lines across Slovakia worth more than €8,600.” He added that ĽSNS sees such news in the media as a failed attempt to discredit the party’s work. “Such attempts only encourage us and give us energy to continue to protect those who aren’t protected by the state,” he added.
On August 2 the media reported that Kotleba’s patrols have to be cancelled, referring to ZSSK’s new transport regulation. Without prior written permission of ZSSK, it is forbidden to perform activities that are not related to public passenger transport, even with a valid ticket and without written permission it is forbidden to enter ZSSK trains for following purposes: to carry out sales, promotion or political agitation or support and promote a name, brand, programme and slogans of a political party, political movement or a candidate as well as posting or handing out leaflets, reads the regulation.
ĽSNS leader Marian Kotleba announced setting up patrols on trains in front of the railway station in Zvolen on April 11, allegedly in response to an attack on a 21-year-old woman by a 16 year old boy that took place on a train heading from Nové Zamky to Zvolen on April 7. The boy identified as Šimon attacked the girl and stole her purse but was caught by police, the SITA newswire wrote.
