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Slovakia to mark 80 years since fascism’s defeat with major celebration
Second World War veterans attend the national celebrations marking the 70th anniversary of the end of the war and Victory over Fascism Day at the memorial in the Háj-Nicovô military cemetery in Liptovský Mikuláš on May 8, 2015. (source: TASR - Martin Baumann)
The Defence Ministry and organisers are preparing for one of the year’s most significant commemorative events as Slovakia gears up to mark the 80th anniversary of victory over fascism. Thousands of visitors from across the country are expected to gather at the local airport in Piešťany on Thursday, May 8, 2025.
The national celebrations will cost more than €700,000 and will feature a packed programme of events, blending commemoration, military displays, and cultural performances.
Full day of activities
Festivities will begin early with demonstrations by military dog handlers, a shooting simulator, and an escort vehicle from the Prison and Judicial Guard Corps. The Dukla Military Sports Centre will showcase a rowing simulator and a laser shooting range. Military history clubs will present both static displays of equipment and dynamic battle re-enactments. Two field kitchens will serve meals prepared using historic recipes. Visitors can also look forward to the Victory Tent, which will feature period photographs and wartime films from the Second World War — though much more awaits them.
Ceremony and official opening
At 10:00, a wreath-laying ceremony will take place at the Memorial to Fallen Romanian Soldiers, broadcast live on LED screens at the airport grounds. The official opening ceremony will follow at 11:00 and feature speeches by Slovakia’s top three state representatives. The programme will include performances by the Lúčnica choir, the Military Music Band from Banská Bystrica, and renowned opera singer Jolana Fogašová. People can also expect flyovers by F-16 fighter jets and Black Hawk UH-60 helicopters, alongside parachute jumps. From noon, the armed forces will stage a large-scale dynamic display, and from 13:00 approximately 220 cadets will take their solemn military oath. The programme will continue at 14:00 with dynamic re-enactments from military history clubs and an aerial show by the Retro Sky Team. Musical performances will follow from 14:30, with appearances by Kali and Peter Pann, Peter Cmorík, the Cigánski Diabli ensemble, and Martin Gyimesi performing hits by Karol Duchoň.
Visitors will receive detailed information about the schedule, airport venue, refreshments, and logistics upon arrival, but here is a brief overview before you set off for the spa town of Piešťany.
Traffic changes: Drivers heading to Piešťany on Thursday for the national celebrations should expect traffic changes and restrictions, police have warned. Drivers arriving via the D1 motorway from both directions are advised to exit at Horná Streda. The D1 section between Piešťany and Horná Streda will be exempt from toll payments from 8:00 to 16:00. Žilinská Street in Piešťany will be closed to vehicles and pedestrians from 9:00 to 11:00. The closure extends from the Jánošíkova intersection to the parking area in front of the airport entrance.
Parking: Free parking for up to 5,000 vehicles will be available at the airport, with the car park opening ahead of the event at 8:00.
The map of Piešťany Airport and the celebration venue. (source: Defence Ministry)
Shuttle service: Shuttle buses will operate between 8:00 and 17:20 in 30-minute intervals. The route will cover: → Polyclinic → Ice Stadium → Nitrianska Street → Aupark → City Centre → Bus Station → Horný Cemetery → Airport. Services will run in both directions.
Train services: Železničná spoločnosť Slovensko will strengthen selected train connections. Long-distance trains will make exceptional stops at Piešťany railway station throughout the day. Anyone travelling to the Victory over Fascism Day celebrations in Piešťany will be entitled to a free train ticket. All you need to do is say the password “victory over fascism” (víťazstvo nad fašizmom) at the ticket office at your departure station.
Prohibited items: explosives, firearms, sharp objects, stun devices, drones, glass bottles, illegal substances.
A few more practical details: free Wi-Fi will be available throughout the site, alongside plenty of food stalls, toilet facilities and drinking water tanks.
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Future stages: From Bratislava to Prešov, meet the Slovak football stadiums ready to showcase Europe’s next generation.
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NICE DRIVEWAY!
Bureaucratic nightmare
A road sign points towards the Foreigners' Police building in Bratislava. (source: Peter Dlhopolec for The Slovak Spectator)
Slovakia’s Foreigners’ Police system has become intolerably dysfunctional, making it nearly impossible for some foreigners to live and work in the country, writes James Thomson.
VOICEOVER CONTROVERSY
Tiso sympathiser narrates state invitation to anti-fascist celebrations
Actor Jozef Šimonovič, known for praising wartime president and Nazi collaborator Jozef Tiso, has voiced a government video inviting the public to Slovakia’s 80th Victory over Fascism celebrations. Years earlier, Šimonovič recited a poem at a memorial event organised by the far-right ĽSNS party, honouring Tiso.
Asked about the recent voiceover job, he said he was hired by a sound engineer and sees the video as artistic work, despite admitting he has no regrets about his past tribute to Tiso. The Defence Ministry has yet to explain how a Tiso sympathiser came to voice the state’s official anti-fascist video invitation. (Denník N)
IN OTHER NEWS
Protests in Bratislava sparked by Prime Minister Robert Fico’s meeting with Vladimir Putin last December will end this Friday with a final rally marking Europe Day, organisers announced. Although tens of thousands joined early demonstrations, turnout has since dropped, but the civic group behind them vowed to remain ready to act when needed.
Pro-Russian flyers, described as resembling material from Moscow’s embassy, have been distributed across Bratislava’s Petržalka district, prompting warnings from the Hoaxy a podvody project of an unprecedented hybrid threat. The leaflets, partly distributed by a local company, feature the St George ribbon — a symbol long exploited by Vladimir Putin to signal support for Russia’s war in Ukraine. (Aktuality.sk)
"Congratulations on Victory over Fascism Day! The Russian Embassy in Slovakia." (source: Aktuality)
Around 40 members of the Kremlin-friendly Night Wolves motorcycle club arrived in Bratislava on Saturday as part of their “Victory Route” to Berlin, but were met by only a handful of supporters and roughly equal number of protesters holding banners declaring “Russia is a terrorist state”. The group, marking the Soviet World War II victory, had entered Slovakia a day earlier, though their reception was far colder than in past years. (Aktuality.sk)
Police in Nové Mesto nad Váhom have launched a criminal investigation after an unknown perpetrator defaced a war memorial in Nová Bošáca’s Grúň district last week. Red paint was used to mark the soldier’s statue and a vulgar message was scrawled on the pedestal, according to police and media photos. (TASR)
The defaced memorial, sprayed with the inscription “Russian whores”. (source: Facebook)
Slovakia’s national rail operator ZSSK suffered a major outage on Tuesday, leaving passengers unable to buy tickets online, via its app, or at stations, though more expensive onboard sales remained available. The company told passengers earlier in the afternoon that, due to the outage, they could board trains without tickets. The disruption, blamed on the company’s IT provider, lasted until around 15:30, with the website also offline during the incident. (ZSSK)
Ukrainian refugees have paid more in taxes and contributions than Slovakia has spent on supporting them, according to analysis prepared for Deputy Prime Minister Peter Kmec (Hlas). Most of Slovakia’s related costs have been covered by the European Union.
WEDNESDAY WEATHER BRIEFING: Cloudy to overcast, with occasional rain or showers and snow possible at higher altitudes. Rather cold. Daytime highs ranging from 9°C to 16°C. (SHMÚ)
The rock formation known as the Sleeping Monk near Kamenica in the Spiš region. (source: TASR - Veronika Mihaliková)
HAPPY NAME DAY: May 7 is a special day for Monika, so if you know one, don’t forget to send your warmest wishes. Všetko najlepšie!
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