Nitra elementary school children attending the event in question. (source: FB Ženy v sukni (Women in skirs))
On September 17, a Russian propaganda event reportedly took place at a primary school in Nitra. It was highlighted by the platform Nie v našom meste (Not in Our Town), which focuses on supporting democracy and countering radicalisation in society. On September 26, the Education Ministry also responded to it.
Miloš Zverina from the Slavica association brought panels on the 1944 Slovak National Uprising (SNP) to an event involving a military veteran at Škultétyho 1 Primary School in Nitra. They reportedly described the Soviet army's contribution to the SNP in adulatory and misleading terms.
Slavica is a "Slavic" group that interprets history from a pro-Russian persepective.
Ministry reacted
After an article titled "Russian Propaganda Directly at a Primary School" appeared on the news website tyzden.sk, the Education Ministry responded.
"The ministry strongly condemns the exhibition on the Slovak National Uprising (SNP) and World War II, which included elements of political propaganda, that took place at the Nitra primary school, and it emphatically advises schools against hosting similar exhibitions," stated the ministry.
It described the exhibition as including political propaganda, and advised schools against hosting such events. The ministry praised the quick response of Nitra town hall, which highlighted the importance of communication with the school and parents to prevent similar incidents.
The ministry also announced it would investigate Slavica’s involvement.
City apologises to students and their parents
Henrich Varga, communication advisor to the mayor, stated: "We consider such events in public spaces to be absolutely unacceptable. We need to check the facts and determine if the organisers misled the school under the guise of a discussion."
The City of Nitra apologised to the affected children and parents. Varga added that the school was a victim of a hybrid threat, and further assessments and systematic measures are being taken to prevent future incidents.
The event was likely organised by "Women in Skirts," a nationalist group that purports to promote traditional values. They boasted on social media about a "successful meeting of a military veteran with students," with Peter Andreánsky, the veteran, discussing "peace". Panels brought by Miloš Zverina commemorated the 80th anniversary of the SNP.
An image from the school event; in the background are panels praising the Soviet army and its "huge" contributiion to the SNP in 1944. (source: FB Ženy v sukni (Women in Skirts))
School distances itself from propaganda
The principal of the school, Henrieta Martincová, clarified in a statement: "We became victims of unwanted propaganda and online disinformation." She distanced the school from Slavica's ideologies, asserting that the talk was about the veteran’s missions, not the SNP or pro-Russian propaganda.
Martincová also acknowledged that the responsible teacher, described as young and inexperienced, had failed to inform her about the event in advance, leading to the propaganda material being displayed. The school has now implemented measures to prevent a recurrence.
The unnamed teacher added that with conspiracy theorists in high places, it’s difficult to manage such situations. He rhetorically asked, "Imagine inviting someone like [MP and conspiracy theorist Peter] Kotlár to speak about his Covid theories. Would that be educational or spreading conspiracy?"
