Well-known political analyst and Institute for Public Affairs (IVO) think tank president Grigorij Mesežnikov was assaulted on February 26 in the centre of Bratislava. He is reported not to be seriously injured.
The incident has been confirmed to SLOVAKIA by Regional Headquarters of Police Corps in Bratislava spokesperson Tatiana Kurucová. She added an investigation was underway in this case, and that Bratislava police will begin discussing the incident later.
IVO appreciates the help that the public provided Mesežnikov.
"We appreciate that several passers-by came to his defense, and one of them didn't even hesitate to physically defend (Mesežnikov)," reads a statement issued by IVO.
IVO also called on public officials to refrain from comments that have a negative impact on the atmosphere in society, or could encourage similar acts of violence against individuals or groups of people.
Mesežnikov was assaulted in Bratislava's Old Town at Rybné Square at noon by a 27-year-old man from Bratislava. The attacker, who was arrested immediately afterwards, is facing disorderly conduct charges related to a hate crime, as the reason for the assault was Mesežnikov's Jewish ethnicity.
According to the Aktualne.sk website, the attacker shouted that he hated Jews. TASR
Compiled by Zuzana Vilikovská from press reports
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information presented in its Flash News postings.
