Orange dragon, the symbol of the Dráčik toysstore chain. (source: SME - Marko Erd)
"Only a slaver robs you of your sovereignty, not a friend. Only a slave voluntarily gives up sovereignty, not a free person. We are Slovaks, not slaves."
No, this is not a quote from a cheap, nationally-oriented motivational piece of literature. This is a statement that appeared on the online shop of one of the largest toy sellers in Slovakia.
At the beginning of this year, the Dráčik [or Little Dragon in English] toy store chain launched a campaign on its official website, fighting against the defence agreement between Slovakia and the US. Statements of this kind have continued to appear ever since. Although unsigned, it is almost certain that their author is the owner of Dráčik, Dušan Víglaský.
The history and financial results of the retail chain show that he is a successful businessman. In recent months, however, the chain has been called controversial. So, who is Dušan Víglaský?
A mysterious businessman
There are businesspeople who like to talk about their success story and do so often. Especially if they can boast of good results or a company that can compete with big foreign players on the market.
The Dráčik toystore chain meets all these criteria. However, the story of its birth cannot be found in the Slovak media.
Why is that? As journalists like to look for success stories of Slovak companies, it is unlikely that they would not want to write an article about Dráčik as well. Yet for such an article to be published, the willingness of the other party is necessary. In the case of the chain owner, it would seem that there is little.
