Update: On Wednesday, we updated the main story in the news digest by adding a statement from the museum.
Hello. Here is theTuesday, August 20edition of Today in Slovakia - the main news of the day in less than five minutes.
Pagan ritual exhibit censored after Kuffa’s visit
Deputy environment minister Štefan Kuffa and the Slovak Museum of Nature Protection and Speleology in the background. (source: TASR/The Slovak Spectator)
After a visit by Deputy Environment Minister Štefan Kuffa to the Slovak Museum of Nature Protection and Speleology, a controversy has erupted over the museum’s step to alter part of a historical display portraying a pagan ritual from the Bronze Age. The museum, located in northern Slovakia, removed a figure in the exhibit—a man depicted as kneeling before a couple preparing to offer him as a sacrifice—after Kuffa reportedly expressed discomfort with the scene a few months ago. The kneeling figure was replaced by a bowl of rye.
The decision has been met with outrage by critics, particularly from the non-parliamentary Demokrati party, led by former defence minister Jaroslav Naď. The party accused Kuffa of imposing censorship on scientific and cultural heritage.
“Kuffa is literally mocking human knowledge and the work of generations of archaeologists, historians, and speleologists,” said Michal Kiča, a Demokrati member and former deputy environment minister. “Ideological interference with scientific research is unacceptable in a free society.”
Kuffa, an ultra-conservative politician aligned with the hard-right Slovak National Party, has drawn national attention for his extreme views. He has previously voiced support for the crowning of Jesus Christ as the king of Slovakia and has made inflammatory statements about LGBT+ people, suggesting they would be “better off dead”.
The museum, which falls under the purview of the Environment Ministry, did not comment on the specifics of Kuffa’s involvement in the alteration on Tuesday.
On Wednesday, the museum denied that Kuffa had influenced the work of its staff. According to the museum, the exhibition was adjusted in order to tailor it to a children’s audience.
The kneeling man has been removed and replaced by a bowl of rye. (source: TASR - Ján Krošlák)
Related: Over the weekend, deputy environment minister Štefan Kuffa disrupted a theatre performance during a cultural event in a small village, insisting that parents remove their children from the audience. Kuffa deemed the Irish play being performed as “perverse”.
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FEATURE STORY
“You really need to get rid of your mosquitos!”
Bratislava is a great place to film - especially on the street, you don’t even need a permit if you’re shooting without a tripod, says Irish producer Mairead Tucker. (source: Mairead Tucker)
The Slovak capital recently dazzled as the backdrop for an Irish language travel show, showcasing its vibrant attractions. However, the shoot was far from smooth—an Irish Instagram star emerged as the most dramatic casualty of the trip.
Tour
Rare Blue Church tour with organ music
St. Elizabeth's Church, known as the Blue Church, in Bratislava. (source: TASR)
Don’t miss this rare opportunity to explore the iconic Blue Church on Bezručova 2 in the Old Town, Bratislava. Experience a stunning organ performance in the enchanting atmosphere of this Art Nouveau masterpiece, typically accessible only during services.
No reservation is required for the tour, which runs every half hour from 10:00 to 15:00, Monday through Friday. Tickets are €5 and can only be purchased on site.
The tour, which will end on August 30, is conducted in English, with printed materials available in German, Hungarian, Slovak, Spanish, and Italian.
IN OTHER NEWS
The Culture Ministry will cancel its Cultural Policy Institute at the end of August due to reorganisational changes related to the consolidation of public finances. The Justice Ministry and the Defence Ministry have dissolved their analytical units.
Finance Minister Ladislav Kamenický (Smer) and Economy Minister Denisa Saková (Hlas) are currently visiting China to negotiate with major companies that may invest in Slovakia. Two months ago, Transport Minister Jozef Ráž (Smer nom.) also visited China, and Prime Minister Robert Fico is also planning a trip there.
Starting next year, the minimum wage will rise to €816 from the current €750. This increase results from a legally mandated formula that activates if unions and employers cannot reach an agreement on wage adjustments, which was the case this time.
The Open Culture! platform has kicked off a relay protest named the Slovak Cultural Uprising outside the Culture Ministry. They are demanding the removal of Minister Martina Šimkovičová and her Chief of Staff, Lukáš Machala. The protest takes place daily from 8:00 to 20:00, concluding on August 29 to mark the 80th anniversary of the Slovak National Uprising.
The judge at the Specialised Criminal Court has dismissed the charges against former judge David Lindtner, who advises Prime Minister Robert Fico and Minister Susko, due to significant procedural errors. The prosecutor has filed an appeal. The charges involve allegations of interference with judicial independence and indirect corruption. Recently, the government apologised to Lindtner for his unlawful detention.
As of January 1, the Belarusian embassy in Slovakia has ceased operations. The Pravda daily reports that an unnamed source attributed the closure to Belarusian officials deeming some of Slovakia’s activities in Minsk as unacceptable interference in their internal affairs. “To put it cautiously, it involved facilitating the transfer of cash to individuals persecuted by the local regime,” the source said, noting that this situation began following the change of government in 2020.
The Steiner antiquarian bookshop in Bratislava is spotlighting the 1968 invasion of Czechoslovakia these days. (source: Courtesy of Jana Liptáková)
WEATHER FOR WEDNESDAY: Wednesday will see mostly cloudy to overcast skies across the country. Expect rain throughout the day, with thunderstorms possible at times. Daytime temperatures will range from 23°C to 28°C, reaching up to 33°C in the south and Zemplín region, eastern Slovakia.
Storm warnings will be in effect on Wednesday from 10:00 to 21:00 in central and eastern Slovakia. In Slovakia’s far southeastern region, a heat alert will be in effect on Wednesday afternoon, too. (SHMÚ)
AUGUST 21 NAME DAY IN SLOVAKIA: Jana.
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