List of author's articles, page 8
Palko: They used Bulldog inappropriately
The Slovak Spectator (TSS): You have said that employees of the Office of Special Police Activities (ÚZPČ) found 75 phone numbers saved on Bulldog, a mobile phone positioning device, and that these numbers were acquired through police actions that were not officially approved.
Activists launch petition against Tiso mass
A PETITION by the civic initiative “We do not want to stand by” has now been signed by hundreds of people. The initiative was established in protest at a mass held to commemorate Jozef Tiso, president of the wartime fascist Slovak State. During Tiso’s rule, more than 70,000 people, mainly Jews, were deported to German concentration camps. The vast majority of them died there.
Presidential candidates limber up
ON MAY 1, Iveta Radičová, an opposition MP for the Slovak Democratic and Christian Union (SDKÚ) party, began collecting signatures in Komárno for a citizens' petition which is intended to back her bid to become president. Presidential elections will take place in spring 2009. If she is successful, Radičová would be the first woman to serve as Slovak head of state.
US expert questions Cervanová verdict
AN AMERICAN police expert has declared that four men convicted of the 1976 murder of medical student Ľudmila Cervanová are innocent. US police expert Robert Edward Lee made the statement to the weekly news magazine Týždeň and private TV channel Markíza, based on the results of polygraph tests which the four convicted men - Stanislav Dúbravický, František Čerman, Juraj Lachman and Pavol Beďač - underwent last year.
SNS proposes abolition of Nation's Memory Institute
JÁN Slota, chairman of the Slovak National Party (SNS), has moved to abolish the Nation's Memory Institute (ÚPN) several days after the Slovak media published information about him that was based on material obtained from the institute.
Time to 'unleash the tiger'?
SLOVAKIA is planning to strengthen its military presence in Afghanistan. A gradual increase in deployment should result in between 250 and 280 Slovak soldiers serving as part of the NATO mission there by 2010, according to Defence Minister Jaroslav Baška. He was speaking on April 23, after talks with his Dutch counterpart, Eimert van Middelkoop.
President signs Press Code
TURNING a deaf ear to publishers' objections, President Ivan Gašparovič signed the controversial Press Code into law on April 25.
SMK consumed by leadership infighting
THE WAR of words between Hungarian Coalition Party (SMK) chairman Pál Csáky and former chairman Béla Bugár is heating up.
Archbishop prays for Tiso
THE CONTROVERSIAL figure of Jozef Tiso, president of the wartime fascist Slovak state, has been honoured by a top representative of the Roman Catholic church in Slovakia. The Archbishop of Trnava, Ján Sokol, celebrated a requiem mass for Tiso on April 18, the 61st anniversary of his execution as a traitor. The Conference of Bishops of Slovakia said it was a private act by Archbishop Sokol.
Euro-socialists back Press Code
SLOVAKIA'S much-criticised new Press Code has been declared acceptable by the main centre-left grouping in the European Parliament. The Party of European Socialists (PES), of which Slovakia's main governing coalition Smer party is a provisional member, regards the new Press Code as fulfilling all European Union conditions, the group's vice-chairman, Austrian MEP Hannes Swoboda, announced after a working group meeting on April 23. "Currently, I see no reason for any action or decision concerning this media act," Swoboda said, according to the SITA newswire.
Csáky denies deals over treaty
THE LEADER of the Hungarian Coalition Party (SMK), Pál Csáky, denies that any deals lay behind his party's decision to switch sides and back the government in a crucial recent vote in parliament. The decision left the opposition's strategy to block the controversial new Press Code in tatters, and has led to recriminations between the SMK and its former opposition partners. In an interview with The Slovak Spectator, Csáky also suggests that the new Press Code's so-called right of reply, which has attracted international criticism, will not be widely used.
STV gets a new boss
THE PUBLIC service television broadcaster Slovak Television (STV) has a new general manager: Štefan Nižňanský. Nižňanský is STV's fourteenth general manager since 1989. He was the second director appointed by the STV Council, the authority which is elected by parliament to oversee the public broadcaster.
The Lisbon Treaty, in hindsight
WHILE Brussels has welcomed Slovakia's ratification of the Lisbon Treaty, which sailed through parliament on April 10, the treaty's path to passage caused a serious rift between the opposition parties that political analysts are describing as a crisis.
Tunnelling the tunnel
THE SAGA surrounding construction of the most expensive highway tunnel in Slovakia's history, at Branisko, could end in court. A Slovak investigator, in cooperation with Swiss police, has now charged 10 individuals with financial crimes in connection with the tunnel's construction.
Controversial Press Code passed; media mourn
ONE OF the Slovak media's greatest fears - a new law potentially limiting editorial autonomy - has become a reality: on April 9, the Slovak Parliament passed the controversial revision to the Press Code. The bill passed despite a shower of criticism from media experts, publishers and international bodies such as the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). The bill was supported by 81 coalition MPs, with opposition parties opposing it.
Critics raise red flag over FOIA
SLOVAKIA's governing coalition is drawing fire from several sides for its draft amendment to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), which was pushed through parliament to a second reading on March 28.
Fico slams media over coverage
THE GOVERNMENT'S press department wrapped up the recent visit by Russia's Prime Minister, Viktor Zubkov, in a rather unconventional way: by issuing an official statement sharply attacking the media.
Lisbon Treaty passes after SMK switch
THE LISBON Treaty was finally approved by Parliament on April 10 after months of wrangling between the coalition and opposition.
Racists attack US basketball player
DENISE WILSON, an African-American basketball player from the United States who currently plays in Košice, was the victim of a racially-motivated attack in the eastern Slovak city on April 6. Wilson is rated among the best players on her team, Cassovia Košice, but is now said to be considering whether to leave the country.
NATO green-lights bases and expansion
THE CONSTRUCTION of anti-missile bases in Poland and the Czech Republic, countries that neighbour Slovakia, has become a reality.
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- The British Film Institute shines a light on Slovak cinema’s boldest chapter Video
- “Return not,” the ocean cried. But I returned for her
- Hundreds of people ousted from Bratislava’s Volkswagen
- “Return not,” the ocean cried. But I returned for her
- Ambulance hit by Russian drone goes on display in centre of Bratislava
- Bratislava’s embassy-backed events you don’t want to miss
- The British Film Institute shines a light on Slovak cinema’s boldest chapter Video
- Slovakia's latest basketball star is destined for great things in the USA
- When to shop over Easter: Opening hours for supermarkets in Slovakia
- 3 free things to do in Bratislava in the next seven days
- US giant pulls plug on Slovak factory, axing 137 jobs
- 3 free things to do in Bratislava in the next seven days
- “Return not,” the ocean cried. But I returned for her
- Hundreds of people ousted from Bratislava’s Volkswagen
- The British Film Institute shines a light on Slovak cinema’s boldest chapter Video
- Weekend: What to make of Easter in Slovakia
- News digest: Finns air unseen video of Fico shooting, PM’s bloody jacket driven away by minister
- US giant pulls plug on Slovak factory, axing 137 jobs
- Slovakia's latest basketball star is destined for great things in the USA
- “Return not,” the ocean cried. But I returned for her
- German shoemaker Lowa joins wave of factory closures in Slovakia
- 3 free things to do in Bratislava in the next seven days
- A café in an ice cellar, sand dunes and a flower shop at the border
- US giant pulls plug on Slovak factory, axing 137 jobs
- Hundreds of people ousted from Bratislava’s Volkswagen
- When to shop over Easter: Opening hours for supermarkets in Slovakia
- Danish shoemaker to shut Slovak factory, axing 650 jobs in fresh blow to struggling region
- Confetti, chants and history: Hejková’s dream goodbye after nearly 40 years at the top
- Slovakia’s public finances remain in deep trouble
- Ambulance hit by Russian drone goes on display in centre of Bratislava
- Why this gorge deserves a spot on your bucket list Photo
- The British Film Institute shines a light on Slovak cinema’s boldest chapter Video
- Bratislava’s embassy-backed events you don’t want to miss
- Water supply to be cut in parts of Bratislava’s Old Town in late April
- Slovakia's latest basketball star is destined for great things in the USA More articles ›
