The parliament amended a number of laws on December 9 in response to the Paris terror attacks. They strengthen the powers of police and Slovak Information Service (SIS) or introduce new rules for detention of terrorism suspects. Among the measures:
Longer detention time for terrorism suspects. The parliament amended the Constitution to prolong detention time for terrorism suspects from 48 to 96 hours.
A so-called obligatory detention was introduced, where court can detain a terrorism suspect without stating reasons. Detention of any person present at a place where a terrorist attack occurred or is at risk to occur, for 48 hours.
The crime of founding and supporting a terrorist group will be classified as an especially grave crime with minimum sentence of 10 years in prison.
Police will be able to search cars that are suspected of being used for criminal activities.
SIS will be able to switch off websites that “spread ideas promoting or supporting terrorism, political or religious extremism,” if approved by a court. The website owner can file a motion with the Constitutional Court to have the website brought back on.
SIS will be able to trade weapons, drugs and other banned or regulated substances, if approved by a court. They will also get a new possibility to buy or sell things used by terrorists.
The SIS will be able to create so-called legends about its agents: that means using fake information or fake CVs. SIS agents will thus be able to request a court approval for wiretapping under a fake identity.
The SIS will be able to request information about staff and clients of public offices and public companies.
Military intelligence service will have the same competencies as SIS in anti-terrorism fight.
Intercepted phone calls of prisoners will be used in investigating terrorism-related crimes.
Witnesses will be protected from confrontation with suspects, for instance by using videoconferences during hearings.
"Do ľava," (to the left) I yelled, "Nie, do prava" (no, to the right), I gasped. "Dolšie," I screamed. "Nie, nie, horšie..." My Slovak girlfriend collapsed in laughter. Was it something I said?
Anti-terrorism laws sail through parliament Read more 
