Page 2 - Slovakia

Slovakian prime minister's condition remains serious but prognosis positive

Slovakia's populist prime minister, Robert Fico, remained in serious condition on Sunday but has been given a positive prognosis four days after he was shot multiple times in an assassination attempt that has sent shockwaves across the deeply polarised European Union nation, the defence minister said. The worst of what we feared has passed, at least for the moment. But his condition remains serious," Robert Kalinak told reporters outside the hospital where Fico is being treated. His condition is stable with a positive prognosis. Kalinak added that the hospital treating the Slovak leader in Bansk Bystrica, a former coal mining town of 16,000 situated 29 km (17 miles) from where Fico was attacked, will continue to issue updates on his health status. Milan Urbni, deputy director of the hospital, told reporters that "based on the doctors' morning consultation, we can conclude that the patient is currently out of a life-threatening condition. His condition remains very serious, and he ..

Slovakia PM in 'serious condition' as shooting suspect appears in court

On May 15, Robert Fico (59) was shot five times as he was leaving a government meeting and greeting people in Handlova

Slovakia's PM Fico stable but in serious condition, says hospital

Slovakia's populist prime minister, Robert Fico, was shot multiple times and gravely wounded Wednesday after a political event in an attempted assassination that shocked the small country and reverberated across Europe. Doctors were still fighting for his life several hours after the pro-Russian leader, 59, was shot in the abdomen, Defense Minister Robert Kalina told reporters outside the hospital where Fico was being treated for his wounds. He said an operation on Fico was not yet complete and described his condition as extraordinarily serious. At least four shots were fired outside a cultural center in the town of Handlova, nearly 140 kilometers (85 miles) northeast of the capital, where Fico was meeting with supporters, the government said. A suspect was in custody, and an initial investigation found a clear political motivation behind the assassination attempt, Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok said as he briefed reporters alongside the defense minister. There's no doubt abo

Who is Robert Fico, the Slovakian Prime Minister, shot multiple times?

Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico was shot multiple times following a political gathering on Wednesday afternoon

Slovakian PM Fico critical after assassination attempt, suspect detained

Slovakia's populist Prime Minister Robert Fico was wounded in a shooting Wednesday afternoon and taken to hospital. Reports on TA3, a Slovakian TV station, said that Fico, 59, was hit in the stomach after four shots were fired outside the House of Culture in the town of Handlova, some 150 kilometers northeast of the capital, where the leader was meeting with supporters. A suspect has been detained, it said. Police sealed off the scene. Deputy speaker of parliament Lubos Blaha confirmed the incident during a session of Parliament and adjourned it until further notice, the Slovak TASR news agency said.

Close ally of PM Fico tops a pro-Western diplomat to become Slovakia's prez

A close ally of populist Prime Minister Robert Fico beat a pro-Western career diplomat to become Slovakia's new president, and succeed Zuzana Caputov, the country's first female head of state. Parliamentary speaker Peter Pellegrini received 53.85 per cent of the vote with the ballots from over 98 per cent polling stations counted by the Statistics Office in Saturday's runoff election, topping former Foreign Minister Ivan Korcok who had 46.14 per cent. Korcok conceded the defeat and congratulated the winner. I'm disappointed, he said. Pellegrini becomes Slovakia's sixth president since the country gained independence after the split of Czechoslovakia in 1993. Caputov, a staunch backer of neighboring Ukraine in its fight against Russia's invasion, didn't seek a second term in the largely ceremonial post. Pellegrini's victory cemented Fico's grip on power by giving him and his allies control of major strategic posts. The president of the nation of 5.4 million people picks the prime

Thousands take to streets in Slovakia in nationwide anti-govt protests

Thousands of people on Thursday joined growing street protests across Slovakia against a plan by populist Prime Minister Robert Fico to amend the penal code and eliminate a national prosecutors' office. The proposed changes have faced sharp criticism at home and abroad. The plan approved by Fico's coalition government includes abolishing the special prosecutors' office, which handles serious crimes such as graft, organised crime and extremism. Those cases would be taken over by prosecutors in regional offices, which haven't dealt with such crimes for 20 years. The planned changes also include a reduction in punishments for corruption and some other crimes, including the possibility of suspended sentences, and a significant shortening of the statute of limitations. Thursday's protests took place in two dozens of cities and towns, including the capital, and spread also to Prague and Brno in the Czech Republic, Krakow in Poland and Paris. We're not ready to give up, Michal imecka, wh

Slovakia gives Ukraine remaining 9 of 13 promised MiG-29 fighter jets

Slovakia has delivered the remaining nine of the 13 Soviet-era MiG-29 fighter jets that it promised to Ukraine, the Slovak Defence Ministry said on Monday. The ministry said the warplanes were transported overland for security reasons in a complicated logistics operation. The first four were flown from Slovakia to Ukraine by Ukrainian pilots on March 23. "We are doing the right thing," Defence Minister Jaroslav Nad said in a statement On March 17, the Slovak government approved a plan to give Ukraine its entire fleet of Soviet-era MiG-29 planes, becoming the second NATO member to answer Ukraine's plea for warplanes to help defend against Russia's invasion. Slovakia grounded its MiGs in the summer due to a lack of spare parts and maintenance expertise. Neighbouring Poland and the Czech Republic, both NATO members, stepped in to monitor Slovak air space. Replacements for the MiG-29s are unlikely to arrive for another year. Slovakia previously signed a deal to buy 14 US F-16 Block 70

Thousands rally in Prague for 2 slain gay men, demand better protection

Thousands rallied in the Czech capital on Wednesday to honour two Slovak gay men shot dead this month outside a bar in Slovakia, and demanded better protection of LGBTQ people and their families. The gathering in Prague's central Wenceslas Square was held the same day the funerals of Mat Horvth and Juraj Vankulic were conducted in Slovakia. Police said they boosted their presence at the Prague rally after they detained a man who was threating to use a gun against the LGBTQ people at the square. We want to live without fear, one of the banners on display read. A terrorist intentionally killed LGBTQ people, said Czeslaw Walek, one of the organizers. Only by accident did he not kill more. Walek said some 17,000 people so far have signed a petition calling on the Czech government and Parliament to approve legislation that would give LGBTQ people the same protection that ethnic, racial and other minorities enjoy. The petition also demands that the country allows same-sex marriages. Th

As energy prices soar, thousands protest Slovak govt, demand early election

Several thousand people rallied in the Slovak capital on Tuesday to protest the government amid soaring energy prices and to demand an early election. The protest was organized by the opposition leftist Smer-Social Democracy party of former populist Prime Minister Robert Fico and included supporters of other groups, including the far right. Fico blamed the coalition government led by Prime Minister Eduard Heger and President Zuzana Caputova for being partially responsible for the high inflation now hitting the EU nation, claiming that was due to their firm support of Ukraine amid the Russian invasion. Most speakers attacked the European Union's sanctions against Russia and praised Hungary for how it is dealing with the energy crisis. Hungary is heavily dependent on fossil fuels from Russia, and last year signed a 15-year agreement with Russian energy company Gazprom for the purchase of natural gas. Hungarian leader Viktor Orbn has fought vigorously against EU sanctions imposed on .

New gas pipeline linking Poland, Slovakia opens; to import 10.4 bcm gas

Poland and Slovakia celebrated launch of new pipeline connecting them, which enables Warsaw to import 5.7 billion cubic meters (bcm) of natural gas and grants Bratislava access to 4.7 bcm each year

Norsk Hydro shuts aluminum plant in Slovakia as Europe's power woes deepen

Aluminum is one of the most energy-intensive metals to produce, and closure of the Slovalco facility adds to growing signs of stress in Europe's industrial economy as power prices surge to record high

Russia imposes restrictions on diplomatic missions of 5 European countries

Russia has expanded its list of "unfriendly countries" to include Greece, Denmark, Slovenia, Croatia and Slovakia, the Russian government has announced

EAM meets Austrian counterpart in Slovakia, discusses Afghan, Indo Pacific

Jaishankar is currently on a visit to Slovakia and the Czech Republic from June 2 to 6 to impart further momentum to bilateral relations with the two Central European countries

Ukrainian president discuss defence support with Slovak counterpart

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with his Slovak counterpart Zuzana Caputova to discuss defence support for Kyiv

Biden to nominate Indian-American Gautam Rana as Slovakian ambassador

Earlier, Rana served as the Deputy Chief of Mission and Charg d'Affaires ad interim at the US Embassy in Ljubljana, Slovenia

US first lady Jill Biden to meet Ukrainian refugees during border visit

Jill Biden will use her four days in Europe to highlight issues she promotes at home, such as support for U.S. service members, education and the welfare of children

Ukraine crisis: Slovakia, Hungary won't back EU sanctions on Russian energy

The EU's executive branch, the European Commission, has drafted new proposals for sanctions, which could include a phased-in embargo on Russian oil

NATO approves deployment of four new battle groups in eastern parts

NATO has approved the deployment of four new battle groups in the eastern part of the alliance, including Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia, declared Jens Stoltenberg, NATO's Secretary General

Rijiju meets Slovakia premier over evacuation of Indians from Ukraine

Rijiju is among the four Union ministers sent by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as his special envoys to Ukraine's neighbouring countries as part of the Operation Ganga to evacuate Indian nationals