Good evening. Here is the Wednesday, February 12 edition of Today in Slovakia - the main news of the day in a few minutes.
Complaint against Belgium
Justice Minister Boris Susko. (source: TASR)
Slovakia will file an inter-state complaint against Belgium with the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) regarding the case of the death of Slovak national Jozef Chovanec in 2018, reports the TASR newswire. Slovak Justice Minister Boris Susko (Smer) himself will file the complaint in cooperation with Slovakia's representative at the ECHR.
The Slovak national, who worked in Belgium as a construction worker, died in hospital on February 27, 2018, after being detained on a plane bound for Slovakia at Charleroi airport near Brussels. According to witnesses, he behaved aggressively towards the crew as well as the policemen who were called. In August 2020, Belgian media outlets published video footage from prison cameras, showing the man self-harming. Subsequently, the policemen try to pacify him. Moreover, one officer was kneeling on the man's chest for about 16 minutes.
According to Susko, the investigation into Chovanec's death by the Belgian authorities hasn't been definitively concluded and that the complaint is justified 'due to serious shortcomings in the investigation. "We've decided to use all the tools available to the Slovak Republic to protect our citizens," he said, adding that the proceedings in the case of Chovanec's death have been dragging on for 7 years.
According to an expert analysis by Belgian doctors, the cause of his death was swelling of the brain, which he suffered after repeatedly banging his head against a wall in a detention cell.
Last September, a Belgian court of inquiry stated that in regards to the death of Chovanec, no one bears responsibility. According to the court's verdict, a regrettable combination of tragic circumstances transpired.
MORE STORIES FROM THE SLOVAK SPECTATOR WEBSITE
POLITICS: Following PM Robert Fico's (Smer) issuing of an ultimatum to his partners, his coalition partner and SNS chair Andrej Danko wrote him an open letter. Its concents: Criticism, admiration, and a pledge of loyalty.
CULTURE: More exhibitions, projects closing or in risk of closure in Slovak National Gallery. Its management has yet to say if there is any plan to supplant the cancelled acitivities.
BUSINESS: McDonald's announces big expansion in Slovakia, plan is to open up 10 restaurants a year even in smaller towns.
TRAVEL: No castles, no problem: Discover Kysuce's hidden monuments instead. Efforts to boost tourism in Kysuce include new lookout towers, educational trails, and revitalised attractions.
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FEATURE STORY
Hotter than ever
Illustrative image. (source: Fotolia)
Saunas are a popular part of wellness resorts around the world, and Slovakia is not exception in this regard. If you're wondering which resort in the country offers the largest sauna world and where is the largest sauna ceremony located, you'll find the answer in this list.
EVENT FOR THE NEXT FEW WEEKS
The world of anime
The Kino Lumiere cinema. (source: TASR)
Due to the popular demand, the Kino Lumière cinema in Bratislava is going to hold another edition of the Ghibli Svet (World of Ghibli) film cycle, showcasing more work from the famous Japanase studio. The event will start next Wednesday, February 19 with a lecture followed by screening of the movie Perfect Blue. Get the tickets here.
Then, between February 26 and April 6, a Ghibli movie will be screened each week, preceded by a lecture every Wednesday. In a given week, the movie will be screened on Friday and Sunday as well, but without the lecture. Find out more about the event here.
IN OTHER NEWS
The second police officer involved in the death of a 48-year-old man detained in Košice last November was discharged from the police. He is accused of abusing the authority of a public official. The main suspect in the case had already been discharged in late January and faces manslaughter charges and a prison sentence of 12-15 years. On November 5, the man reportedly attempted to steal alcohol in a grocery store. Once apprehended, the store's security reportedly took him to a designated room and called the police. After allegedly being severely beaten by one of the two police officers, the man is believed to have been taken to the police station, where his health deteriorated. He was later transported to a local hospital, where he died the following day. The investigation is ongoing.
The Constitutional Court will assess the constitutionality of the 'Lex Assassination Attempt'. The bill comprises a package of measures to improve the security situation in Slovakia following the shooting attack on PM Robert Fico in May last year. The law introduced new reasons to ban public gatherings, among other things. Now the court has accepted for further proceedings the complaint of opposition MPs who argued that the legislation restricts the right to assemble and interferes with freedom of expression. The party also criticised the fact that it was discussed in a fast-tracked procedure. (TASR)
Slovakia finished 12th in the mixed relay race on Wednesday at the IBU Biathlon World Championships held in Lenzerheide, Switzerland. The Slovak mixed relay consisted of Paulína Bátovská Fialková, Anastasia Kuzmina, Tomáš Sklenárik and Artur Ischakov, for whom this was the debut in such an event. (IBU)
Slovak biathlete Anastasia Kuzmina (right, in the back) during the mixed relay race at the IBU Biathlon World Championships, in Lenzerheide, Switzerland. (source: TASR / AP)
According to PM Robert Fico (Smer), full online access to the Land Registry is likely to be restored at the end of February, with services for banks and notaries, and finally, for local authorities, to be available by mid-March.
The opposition Progressive Slovakia (PS) has called on the governing coalition to scrap the so-called transaction tax, which should take effect as of April 1, at the next parliamentary session. The party says the tax will only increase costs and damage Slovakia's economy. In case the coalition doesn't do so, PS will initiate a special session on the matter. According to MP Štefan Kišš, half of potential investors in a survey said that they are reconsidering investing in Slovakia. (TASR)
Environment Minister Tomáš Taraba and Culture Minsiter Martina Šimkovičová (both SNS nominees) should face a no-confidence vote as opposition MPs submitted the necessary signatures to hold a special parliamentary session. Progressive Slovakia criticises Taraba for several acts, including the latest plan to build a hydropower plant in central Slovakia, which surprised many. When it comes to Šimkovičová, the MPs claim that every day she is in office poses a danger to the culture in Slovakia. The session should take place within 7 days after submitting the signatures. Taraba sees the vote as an attempt at taking down the government. (TASR)
A view of the High Tatras from above the flooded quarry in Poprad's borough of Kvetnica. (source: TASR)
WEATHER FOR THURSDAY: Cloudy to overcast skies, occasionally snowing, in lower altitudes drizzle or rain. Daily temperatures will rise to between 0 °C and 5 °C. Level 1 ground ice warning issued for the entire territory from midnight until noon and later in the evening. (SHMÚ)
FEBRUARY 13 NAME DAY IN SLOVAKIA: Arpád
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