Good evening. Here is the Wednesday, April 2 edition of Today in Slovakia - the main news of the day in less than five minutes.
Experts criticise gvt over bear situation measure
Illustrative image. (source: TASR)
On Wednesday evening, the Regional Police Directorate in Banská Bystrica confirmed that the death of a 59-year-old man, who was found last Sunday in the forest near Detva, central Slovakia, was caused by a bear attack. The man was not on a hiking trail.
"The man had visible injuries on his body, and the preliminary medical report confirmed that he succumbed to the injuries caused by the attack of a wild animal," the police stated.
Earlier that day, the government declared a bear emergency across most Slovak districts (55/79), which came into affect at 14:00. The government also approved the culling of 350 brown bears based on a report by State Nature Conservation.
PM Robert Fico (Smer) said that the government has made a sensitive but correct decision.
"I agree with the cabinet members who say that we can't live in a country in which people will be afraid to go into the forests and where humans will become food for bears. The intensity of bear attacks is radically increasing, and we are in a period during which bears should be resting," said Fico, adding that this summer could be a bad one in terms of bear attacks.
Districts in question: Turčianske Teplice, Martin, Žilina, Bytča, Kysucké Nové Mesto, Čadca, Námestovo, Tvrdošín, Dolný Kubín, Ružomberok, Liptovský Mikuláš, Poprad, Kežmarok, Stará Ľubovňa, Sabinov, Levoča, Prešov, Bardejov, Svidník, Stropkov, Vranou nad Topľou, Humenné, Medzilaborce, Snina, Spišská Nová Ves, Rožňava, Gelnica, Košice-okolie, Košice I/II/III/IV, Brezno, Revúca, Rimavská Sobota, Poltár, Lučenec, Detva, Veľký Krtíš, Krupina, Zvolen, Banská Bystrica, Žiar nad Hronom, Banská Štiavnica, Žarnovica, Topoľčany, Zlaté Moravce, Levice, Považská Bystrica, Púchov, Ilava, Prievidza, Partizánske, Bánovce nad Bebravou and Trenčín.
What preservationists say: According to Greenpeace Slovakia, the Environment Ministry is prioritising killing bears over scientific evidence and is undermining efforts to protect the countryside in Slovakia as well as threatening the ecological integrity of the broader Carpathian region. "Conflicts often arise due to unsealed waste bins, food scraps and feeding stations — all factors that the country must immediately address appropriately," said spokesperson Miroslava Abelová, adding that bears can be effectively deterred by implementing proven non-lethal measures, such as using chemicals, rubber projectiles and trained dogs. The organisation also pointed out that the ministry continually ignores warnings and exploits the issue to deepen the polarisation of the society. The civic association My Sme Les (We Are the Forest), organisations Aevis, WWF Slovensko, Via Iuris also criticise the motion, calling it unsystematic and claim it can make the situation worse. According to them, the problem are feeding stations which should be removed and that the government is neglecting and not addressing preventive measures.
MORE STORIES FROM THE SLOVAK SPECTATOR WEBSITE
CULTURE: Problems at the Betliar Museum started last November after a surprising appointment of an acting director. Now, Culture Minister Martina Šimkovičová accused the former director of abducting it, while the employees talk of bullying, humiliation on the part of the acting director.
HOUSING: Flats in Bratislava are getting smaller, otherwise no one would buy them.
OPINION: Three defining moments in the UK-Slovakia relationship, according to Nigel Baker, British Ambassador to Slovakia.
TRAVEL: A unique underground museum in Košice has reopened again. A major renovation is set for next year.
If you like what we are doing and want to support good journalism, buy our online subscription with no ads and a print copy of The Slovak Spectator sent to your home in Slovakia. Thank you.
FEATURE STORY
Recognition or a joke?
A Goral ornament on a blouse. (source: TASR)
The Gorals, who live in the Polish-Slovak border regions, are best known to the rest of Slovakia for their distinctive hats, music and traditional dress. Above all, the Gorals take pride in being Gorals.
In January, following a relatively swift process, they were officially recognised as a national minority. This means they are now eligible for public funding from the Fund for the Support of Cultural Minorities.
While folk groups have welcomed the news, the government's decision has sparked surprise among experts.
EVENT FOR THURSDAY
Concert for Drama Queer
The Pink Whale venue on the river Danube. (source: TASR)
Despite being evaluated as one of the best projects, the Drama Queer theatre festival did not get any funds from the Slovak Arts Council (FPÚ), a formerly independent cultural fund, now under the control of the Culture Ministry, which openly states that LGBT+ initiatives will not get anything. As such, the festival is in a difficult position.
That is why the Pink Whale venue on the Danube riverbank is holding a benefit concert to help Drama Queer, with the entire collected sum going to the festival. You can look forward to a wide variety of genres, including post-rock, electropop, rap, techno and more.
Admission is voluntary, gates will be open at 18:00. Click here to learn more.
IN OTHER NEWS
Two more F-16 fighter jets made by US company Lockheed Martin landed at the Kuchyňa military airbase, Bratislava Region. Slovakia now has five out of 14 aircraft ordered at its disposal. At the moment, Slovakia's airspace is being guarded by neighbouring countries. (SITA)
The watchdog platform Konšpirátori has notched another court win in just two weeks. The Bratislava III Court rejected the lawsuit filed in 2018 by Czech website Parlamentní Listy in its entirety. The website spreads disinformation, pro-Russian propaganda and conspiracies. It sued the platform for unfair competition and damage to its reputation. At the end of March, the court rejected the lawsuit filed by Denník Štandard daily. (Sme)
On Wednesday, Slovak President Peter Pellegrini (second from left) and Polish President Andrzej Duda (right) opened a new exhibition in Starý Smokovec, the High Tatras, dedicated to the 30th anniversary of late Pope John Paul II's visit to the mountain range. (source: TASR)
According to Agriculture Minister Richard Takáč (Smer), there is no new outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in Slovakia at the moment in addition to the five that have already been confirmed so far. Culling at the four farms in the Dunajská Streda district was finished on Tuesday. Breeders from the district should be compensated soon, probably by the end of the week, said Takáč. According to the police, veterinary checks carried out by Austrian experts may appear on the Austrian-Slovak border as the country banned import of certain animals as well as animal products from Hungary and Slovakia. (TASR)
An extraordinary parliamentary session in regards to the no-confidence vote against Defence Minister Robert Kaliňák (Smer) did not open as after two attempts the house was not quorate to make the decision. The vote should be a part of the next regular parliamentary session starting at the end of May. The motion was initiated by the opposition Slovensko movement over the fact that Kaliňák did not include a villa Croatia owned by his wife in his property declaration. (TASR)
According to the Indian Foreign Ministry, Indian President Draupadi Murmu will visit Slovakia on April 9-10, the first visit of an Indian president in 29 years. She was invited by her Slovak counterpart Peter Pellegrini and will also meet Speaker of Parliament Richard Raši (Hlas) and PM Robert Fico (Smer). In addition to Bratislava, Murmu will also visit Nitra in western Slovakia. She will be accompanied by representatives of the parliament, government and business sector.
In March, Slovak Foreign Minister Juraj Blanár, Finance Minister Ladislav Kamenický (both Smer) and a business delegation visited India. (TASR)
The senate of the Trnava District Court postponed the proceedings on the motion for conditional release of Mikuláš Černák, the former mafia boss, from prison after hearing psychology and psychiatry experts to May 20 and 22. A public hearing on the matter was held at the Piešťany branch of the Trnava District Court on Wednesday after almost a year. Černák has spent nearly three decades behind bars for extortion and six brutal murders. (TASR)
Blooming tulips near Ružomberok, northern Slovakia. (source: TASR)
WEATHER FOR THURSDAY: Generally sunny, some clouds might appear as well. Daytime temperatures will rise to between 11°C to 19°C. Level 1 wind warning on mountains issued for the mountain ranges in central and northern Slovakia, see the map here. (SHMÚ)
APRIL 3 NAME DAY IN SLOVAKIA: Richard
Thank you for subscribing and reading. It means a lot to us.
P.S. If you have suggestions on how our news overview can be improved, you can reach us at editorial@spectator.sk.
Follow The Slovak Spectator on Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram(@slovakspectator).
