Case of EU flag burning returns to courts

The lower-instance courts allegedly held one-sided proceedings.

Marián Mišún (l)Marián Mišún (l) (Source: TASR)

The Supreme Court has accepted the appeal of far-right extremist Marián Mišún and dismissed the original verdict for burning a flag of the European Union in front of the Bratislava Castle back in 2012.

SkryťTurn off ads
Article continues after video advertisement
SkryťTurn off ads
Article continues after video advertisement

In their previous rulings, both the Bratislava I District Court and the Bratislava Regional Court found him guilty of disorderly conduct, the TASR newswire reported.

The senate led by Štefan Michalík decided that the courts violated the laws when the proceeding was only one-sided. The courts used only the evidence provided by the criminal authorities, like police hearings and a recording of the incident made by the police officers. They did not want to hear the participants of the incident, according to the senate.

SkryťTurn off ads
Read also: Court upholds punishments for EU flag burning Read more 

“They violated the principle of equality which is used also by the judicature of the European Court of Human Rights,” Michalík explained, as quoted by TASR, adding that Mišún’s actions were not classified correctly.

As a result, the case was returned to the district court for re-assessment, TASR wrote.

In the original verdict, Mišún and Štefan Potocký were fined €300 and €500, respectively, for burning the EU flag in the end of the protest march titled “Together for a decent and safe life in Slovakia”. Mišún said he has already paid the fine, while Potocký, who is currently in Ukraine, has not done so. He even has not filed an appeal.

He considers his actions an expression of freedom of speech, as reported by TASR.

Top stories

Slovakia marks 20 years since joining NATO.

Slovakia marks 20 years in the Alliance.


Daniel Hoťka and 1 more
Píšem or pišám?

"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?


Matthew J. Reynolds
Czech biochemist Jan Konvalinka.

Jan Konvalinka was expecting a pandemic before Covid-19 came along.


SkryťClose ad