Good evening. Here is the Friday, May 9 edition of Today in Slovakia - the main news of the day in less than five minutes.
Fico defends Moscow visit as "an honour". Kallas expresses disbelief
Robert Fico (l) shakes hands with Russia's President Vladimir Putin during his visit to Moscow on May 9, 2025. (source: Alexei Nikolsky)
The Baltic states denied Prime Minister Robert Fico permission to cross their airspace en route to Moscow. Despite the detour, he still travelled to the Russian capital to attend a parade to commemorate the end of World War II on May 9.
Russia celebrates Victory Day on May 9, while most other countries mark the occasion on May 8. In Europe, May 9 is celebrated as Europe Day, which marks the anniversary of the Schuman Declaration in 1950.
Kaja Kallas, a former Estonian prime minister who is now the European Union's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, expressed indignation over Fico's visit to Moscow during a meeting of foreign ministers in Lviv, Ukraine. Slovakia's foreign minister, Juraj Blanár, did not attend.
“I truly don’t understand it. All those who support freedom, independence and all European values should be in Ukraine today, on Europe Day – not in Moscow,” said Kallas.
Fico did not keep Kallas waiting for a response. The same day, he posted a message on Facebook addressed to her informally, beginning “Dear Kaja” and continuing:
“Once again, I have noted your [informal] comments about me in connection with today’s visit to Moscow and the announced meeting not only with the President of the Russian Federation, V. Putin. Apparently, I’m not standing on the right side of history – or other similarly profound geopolitical reflections.”
In his open letter to Kallas, Fico further wrote that he travelled to Moscow to honour the memory of more than 60,000 Red Army soldiers who died "liberating" Slovakia – a gesture he insists has no connection with the Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
According to Fico, Kallas, as an EU official, has no right to criticise the sovereign prime minister of a sovereign country. He also rejected what he called a “new Iron Curtain” policy, which he claims Kallas is promoting. Fico questioned how diplomacy is supposed to function if politicians are not allowed to meet and engage in dialogue, even when they hold opposing views.
Related:
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated on Friday that the visit of Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico and Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić to Moscow for the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe was "an act of heroism". Peskov made the remark in an interview with Russia's state TV channel, Channel One, the TASR newswire reported.
MORE STORIES FROM THE SLOVAK SPECTATOR WEBSITE
World War II reflection: In an interview with The Slovak Spectator, Ukraine’s ambassador to Slovakia warns of rising “rashism” and historical distortion as Russia wages its war against his country. He also reflects on WWII parallels, Ukraine’s sacrifices, and why Europe must resist repeating past mistakes.
Good news: A possible visit from the new Pope, a transplant record broken at Martin Hospital, and Poprad named one of Europe’s top budget summer destinations for 2025 — our feel-good stories, along with the meme of the week, are here to brighten your day!
Weekend picks: From sword duels at Spiš Castle and indie concerts in Modra to magical Quidditch in Piešťany and a picnic in Pezinok, this weekend in Slovakia is packed with festivals, music, markets, and more.
Pope in Slovakia: Before becoming Pope Leo XIV this week, then-Cardinal Robert Prevost had been scheduled to visit Košice and Levoča for major church events this summer. With his election, those plans are now in doubt.
Vampire techno: Vampires, techno and improvised theatre collide in Slovakia’s underground LARP scene. From blood-soaked ballrooms to gothic roleplay, Rave of Caine offers a glimpse into a subculture where imagination rules and the undead come to life.
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FEATURE STORY
Housing for everyone? Bratislava pushes new rental projects
The first rental flats have just been completed in the residential complex on Petržalka’s Muchovo Square. (source: Miroslav Košírer)
Bratislava is ramping up efforts to address its housing crisis by expanding city-owned rental flats and joining a state-backed scheme offering affordable, fully furnished homes. New developments in Petržalka and deals with private developers mark a major shift in making long-term housing more accessible to residents.
EVENT FOR THE WEEKEND
A romantic evening of flute and guitar music
(source: FB VientoMarero duo)
How about a concert and some relaxation this weekend? Husband-and-wife duo Michaela and Jiří Meca, on flute and guitar respectively, promise a magical performance. Mark your calendar for this Sunday and come enjoy the musical experience in Bratislava with them.
IN OTHER NEWS
Japan has renewed its humanitarian partnership with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Slovakia to assist people displaced by the war in Ukraine. Japan's support will enable the IOM to continue providing essential services, including housing assistance, access to health care, awareness-raising for vulnerable groups, and data collection. The initiative also aims to strengthen the resilience of displaced Ukrainians and support local Slovak communities hosting them. Japan’s ambassador to Slovakia, Yasuhiro Kawakami, praised Slovakia’s solidarity and reaffirmed Japan’s commitment to help manage the ongoing crisis. (IOM UN Migration)
Valon Halimi, head of IOM Slovakia (left), and Yasuhiro Kawakami, Japan's ambassador to Slovakia (right). (source: iom.sk)
On Friday evening, gatherings headlined 'Slovakia is Europe' were held in several cities across Slovakia and abroad. The organisers of the protests primarily highlighted the government's “continued undermining of Slovakia’s foreign policy orientation.” They were responding to Prime Minister Robert Fico’s trip to Moscow the same day, where he attended celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War alongside Vladimir Putin, who is currently conducting the biggest war in Europe since 1945. 'Slovakia is Europe' gatherings have taken place 11 times this year. The organisers, from the Peace for Ukraine initiative, are now taking a break from holding protests in Bratislava, but say they plan to seek new forms of civic engagement. (Sme)
PM Robert Fico met To Lam, general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, during his visit to Moscow to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of WWII in Europe. They discussed bilateral cooperation, and Fico confirmed he will visit Vietnam later this year. He also highlighted Slovakia's recent recognition of its Vietnamese national minority and requested the lifting of visa requirements for Slovak citizens, which could boost tourism, business and cultural exchanges. (TASR)
The opposition party Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) is urging the state broadcaster's governing board – the Slovak Television and Radio Council (STVR) – and the Culture Ministry to ensure that the hearing for candidates for the position of STVR general director on May 12 are held in public. SaS raised concerns over the council potentially bypassing legal requirements by allowing online streaming instead of physical attendance. They also criticised the delay in publishing the candidates’ project proposals, stressing the need for transparency and public oversight in the process. (SITA)
Members of the Slovakia party, Gábor Grendel (left), Roman Mikulec (middle), and Igor Matovič (right) visited the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, on Friday, May 9. (source: Facebook - Igor Matovič)
Slovakia is not about Fico, declared members of the Slovakia party. “Millions of people in Slovakia felt shame and a sense of betrayal when they saw Fico today bowing and kissing the symbolic ring of the murderer Putin. That’s why we came here – to encourage Ukrainians on behalf of those people and to show that Slovakia is not just Fico,” said Matovič. (SITA)
The Slovak Interior Ministry plans to replace computers older than five years as part of a €50-million upgrade, as part of a broader €326-million framework agreement for ICT purchases. Currently, nearly three-quarters of the ministry’s 46,000 employees use devices over 10 years old. The ministry expects to modernise over 49,000 devices, including PCs, laptops, monitors, and video conferencing tools. Internal analyses suggest the upgrade will cut energy costs by 30 percent, maintenance by 20 percent, and security incident costs by 50 percent. According to IT director Martin Hrachala, the projected savings could exceed €48 million annually, with a return on investment in under a year. (SITA)
WEATHER FOR THE WEEKEND: The outlook is variable, with overcast and cloudy conditions in some areas, but mostly clear skies in the south and southwest. Temperatures will range from 14 to 19°C. On Saturday, the Slovak Hydrometeorological Institute (SHMÚ) has issued a Level 1 warning for the whole of Slovakia due to frost during the growing season, in effect from midnight to 06:00. (SHMÚ).
WEEKEND PARTY TIME: This weekend, Viktória, Blažena and — last but not least — Pankrác are celebrating their name days. Don’t forget to send your best wishes: to Viktória on Saturday (10 May), Blažena on Sunday (11 May), and Pankrác on Monday (12 May).
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