Good evening. Here is the Wednesday, October 2 edition of Today in Slovakia - the main news of the day in less than five minutes.
Minister: Raids not aimed against youth, but drugs
Interior Minister Matúš Šutaj Eštok. (source: TASR)
Seven raids in nine months, while only one in 2023. Based on the statement of Interior Minister Matúš Šutaj Eštok, more will come, with schools next and the police will proceed "very relentlessly". The goal is to fight against drugs, not the youth.
"Drugs were found in large quantities, meth, marijuana and cocaine, which is why we fundamentally strengthened the anti-drug unit in clubs where young people go. We will proceed very relentlessly in schools as well," the minister told daily Sme. What this means was later clarified by the minister's spokesperson, Matej Neumann, who said that the police will focus on drug-related crimes and the presence of children will be taken into account.
Last weekend, the police carried out the seventh raid in the WAX2 club in Bratislava's centre. Five people were arrested.
The minister stands by the deployment of special police unit, calling it adequate. However, attendees complain about its members and describe them as aggressive. During the August raid of the Kácečko venue (formerly known as KC Dunaj) in the capital's centre, they supposedly used force against the attendees.
The raids are carried out by the financial administration, which checks whether receipts are given. Both clubs received a fine of €500 for two wrong receipts. According to the administration's director, the fine will be increased in the near future.
Former police chiefs Jaroslav Spišiak, now a Progressive Slovakia MP, and Štefan Hamran, now from the non-parliamentary party Demokrati, agree that the deployment of the special unit is disproportionate. The former used used it in the 1990s to fight armed criminal groups.
The WAX2 club hosted four Dutch DJs on the night of the raid. According to a club employee, such raids are only carried out in the Netherlands in case there are suspicions of terrorist activity.
The Pezinok branch of the Smer party called the club "a hotbed of drugs and progressive propaganda" and without evidence went on to describe it as a place where drugs are sold and sex is offered. Using of English as the first language is also a problem for the branch.
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FEATURE STORY
The language of mushroom picking
Mushroom picking involves miles of tramping through boggy, buggy forests in search of these tiny fellas. (source: TASR)
Mushroom picking is a favourite hobby of many Slovaks; it involves bugs, rain, cold, and poisonous fungi. Here's an English-Slovak vocabulary lesson so that when you are invited out to pick mushroom on some early morning, you know what is going on.
EVENT FOR THE MONTH
Bratislava in motion
A still from a performance of Hungarian dancers during one of previous editions of the Bratislava v Pohybe festival. (source: TASR)
Starting on October 5 and continuing throughout the month, the Slovak capital will host the Bratislava v Pohybe (Bratislava in Motion) international contemporary dance festival. The 28th edition will be headlined by the award-winning ensemble La Veronal and the prominent personality of Spanish contemporary dance, Daniel Abreu. In addition, it will showcase performers from Spain, France, Germany, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. To learn more about the programme and tickets, click here.
IN OTHER NEWS
In light of the situation in Lebanon, the government agreed that the Defence Ministry is to deal with the evacuation of Slovaks from the country. Up to 30 soldiers will be sent there to help with the evacuation which will take place in two stages. Firstly, Slovak citizens will be taken to Cyprus, secondly they will be transported to Slovakia. A C27J Spartan transport aircraft capable of carrying 45 people will be deployed, with available capacities to be used to evacuate other nationals if necessary. (TASR)
On Tuesday evening, a bomb threat was reported at the residence of Progressive Slovakia leader Michal Šimecka, who went on to call this an example of the radicalisation and hatemongering of society, for which, he added, the governing coalition is to blame. "You have all the power in the country, so instead of chaos, excuses and attacks on everyone else deliver finally some results to people," said Šimecka, adding that he won't be intimidated. (TASR)
Czech Senate Chair Miloš Vystrčil will pay a visit to Slovakia on October 4-6, accompanied by Mandate and Immunity Committee vice-chair Ondřej Šimetka and Health Committee member Jan Pirk. In Bratislava, Vystrčil is going to hold talks with Deputy Speaker of Parliament Peter Žiga (Hlas). He will also meet representatives of the opposition, NGOs and the economic sector. Next, the men will move to Košice to run in the 100th annual International Peace Marathon.
Slovak diplomat Juraj Nociar assumed the post of Slovakia's Permanent Representative to the EU in Brussels on October 1. Previously, he served as the head of Slovak Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič's office, and held the post of general director of the Foreign Affairs Ministry's European Affairs section. (TASR)
Slovak tennis player Rebecca Šrámková with her maiden WTA title (left) she captured at the 2024 Thailand Open Hua Hin. (source: TASR)
WEATHER FOR THURSDAY: Cloudy to overcast skies, with showers and rain expected in many places, snowing on the Tatra mountain ridges. Daily temperatures will rise to between 10 °C to 17 °C. (SHMÚ)
OCTOBER 3 NAME DAY IN SLOVAKIA: Stela
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