DÁRIUS Rusnák, the head of the public relations department of the President’s Office, will leave his post as of June 15, when the new president is inaugurated. He is leaving at his own request after having provoked a violent incident in Bratislava’s Prezidentka bar.
“Mr Rusnák understood that he made a mistake,” the president’s spokesperson Marek Trubač said, as quoted by the Sme daily.
Three weeks ago Rusnák verbally assaulted two women for speaking Hungarian in the bar, after which he provoked a physical fight with two younger men who came to the women’s defence.
Using vulgar language, Rusnák told the women to leave the bar unless they speak Slovak, one of the women, who wished to remain anonymous, citing fear of intimidation, later told Sme. Two younger men in Prezidentka politely warned Rusnák that his behaviour was unacceptable. Rusnák and his companion allegedly responded by attacking the young men, knocking one of them to the floor, Sme reported.
Rusnák did not commit the crime of defaming a nation or race when he verbally assaulted the two women, according to the police investigator. The investigator of the case moved it to the local authority, which can only impose on Rusnák a €33 fine. He however, still faces punishment for physically attacking the two younger men who defended the two women. The police have indicated that the attack happened as described by the victims. If found guilty, Rusnák could spend from six months to three years in prison, Sme wrote.
Source: Sme
Compiled by Michaela Terenzani from press reports.
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information
presented in its Flash News postings.
