Good evening. Here is the Friday, March 15 edition of Today in Slovakia - the main news of the day in less than five minutes.
Danko avoids criminal charges for auto collision
The traffic light pole in Dubrávka, Bratislava, that Andrej Danko demolished during a nocturnal excursion in January. (source: SME - Patrik Sopóci)
The Bratislava Regional Prosecutor's Office has announced the results of a weeks-long investigation into Slovak National Party (SNS) leader Andrej Danko's infamous late-night automotive encounter with a pedestrian crossing back in January. The collision, and Danko's decision to flee the scene without calling the police, was not a criminal act it has been decided; rather, it "could be a misdemeanour".
After two months of investigation, the prosecution stated that the regional traffic inspectorate intended to refer the case to another authority, specifically the Road Traffic Safety Department at the Bratislava District Police.
The resolution on the referral of the matter was delivered to the Bratislava District Prosecutor's Office only today.
"The conclusions of the resolution and related case materials, including expert opinions, will be reviewed as part of prosecutorial oversight. The overseeing prosecutor will assess the legality and justification of the actions taken by the authorised member of the Regional Traffic Inspectorate," said the prosecutor's spokesperson Gabriela Kováčová.
She added that despite promises from politicians, CCTV footage of the collision still cannot be released.
"It will be possible after the overseeing prosecutor reviews the conclusions of the resolution and related case materials," she said.
More stories from The Slovak Spectator website
Opinion: Robert Fico's government wants to turn public broadcaster RTVS into a propaganda channel, Slovak journalists warn in a joint letter in support of their colleagues at RTVS who are resisting Fico's plans.
Travel: Go on a virtual winter hike with The Slovak Spectator's intrepid reporter to the snowbound Téryho Chata mountain hut in the High Tatras.
Animals: A wallaby (we think) was recently filmed hopping around on a ski slope in the High Tatras; locals have been spotting him since last year.
Mosquitoes: Bratislava has already identified and treated the first mosquito hatcheries, using Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (BTI), a naturally occurring biocide.
Good news: This week's selection of three short stories will tell you about the impressive journey of Slovak scientists to Ireland, Slovak success in France and a centre for robotic surgery in the north of Slovakia.
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FEATURE STORY FOR THE WEEKEND
Lord of the Rings in Slovakia
Revište Castle (source: TASR)
Even though Slovakia is a relatively small country there's plenty to see. Did you know that castles and towers along the Hron River in central Slovakia once lit fires to send signals to warn each other of imminent attacks?
3 EVENTS FOR THE WEEKEND
Become an astronomer for an evening
Come to Bratislava Castle for astronomical observation. (source: Pexels)
Have you ever watched the stars through a telescope from Bratislava Castle? If not, then you have the opportunity to do so this Saturday – for free.
In other news
Ticket sales for trains will be limited overnight from Saturday (March 16) to Sunday (March 17). This affects purchases at ticket offices, and through rail operator ZSSK's e-shop and app. During the maintenance period, tickets can be bought without restriction from onboard staff or via SMS. (ZSSK)
French President Emmanuel Macron criticised PM Robert Fico for revealing discussions about sending troops to Ukraine, suggesting they should have remained private. Macron also mentioned in a broadcast interview (18:05) that Fico is "very close to Russia." (Denník N)
The Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) will observe Slovakia's presidential elections, the Interior Ministry announced. The first round of the election is next Saturday, March 23, with 11 candidates running. If no candidate secures an outright majority, a run-off will take place on April 6 between the two most popular candidates.
President Zuzana Čaputová has warned of the risks associated with the adoption of the newly proposed law to abolish the public broadcaster, RTVS. According to her, the proposal violates media freedom and would allow the government to use its majority in parliament to control the public media poltically. The proposal is in direct contradiction to the new European law on media freedom, the president added.
A traffic accident involving two cars and two trucks forced the closure of the main D1 highway near Bratislava on Friday morning. (source: FB KR HaZZ Bratislava)
WEATHER FOR THE WEEKEND
Cloudy weather can be expected over the weekend, with showers and occasional rain. There may be storms on Saturday in the west of Slovakia around noon. The average daytime temperature over the weekend will be 7°C to 15°C (SHMÚ).
NAME DAY IN SLOVAKIA: Saturday - Boleslav, Sunday - Ľubica, Monday - Eduard
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