MORNING NEWS HIGHLIGHTS - Sunday, 21 September 2025 - 9 a.m.

TASR brings a quick morning overview of the most important events seen in Slovakia on the previous day (Saturday, 20 September): BRATISLAVA/TALLINN – Slovak Foreign Affairs Minister Juraj Blanar expressed his full support to Estonia in connection with the incursion of Russian aircraft into its airspace on Friday, TASR has learnt from Blanar's post published on social media. "Such breaches of sovereignty and international law are unacceptable. We support the consultations requested by Estonia under Article 4 of the North Atlantic Treaty," stated Blanar. Estonia says that three MiG-31 fighter jets entered its airspace without permission early on Friday near Vaindloo island in the Baltic Sea, and stayed for a total of 12 minutes. In response to the incident, Estonia summoned a Russian diplomat in Tallinn and, as NATO member, also requested consultations under Article 4 of the NATO Treaty, according to which NATO members will consult together whenever, in the opinion of any of them, the territorial integrity, political independence or security is threatened. BRATISLAVA – The opposition Progressive Slovakia (PS) leader Michal Simecka's mother is alleged to have misused public funds from subsidies in the period between 2020 and 2023, Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) told a press conference on Saturday. According to him, the international event Central European Forum organised by civil association Project Forum, with Simecka’s mother Marta Simeckova acting as its statutory representative, was only one of many projects with alleged fraudulent conduct. He explained that, based on cross-referencing the data, the Project Forum association applied for funding for the same project from three different entities – the Slovak Arts Support Council (FPU), the Ministry of Culture, and the Ministry of Justice – for a total of €130,000. According to Fico, Simeckova had provided misleading information in affidavits concerning the receipt of public funds, as well as in reporting the expenditure, causing double and even triple reimbursement of invoices. BRATISLAVA – Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) is attacking the family of opposition's Progressive Slovakia (PS) leader Michal Simecka because he is at the end of his tether, fearing the public reaction to the consolidation or, better said, impoverishment, Simecka told a press conference on Saturday in response to Fico’s claims that his mother had misused public funds from subsidies in the period between 2020 and 2023. Simecka described Fico's statements as a disgusting attack on his family. "He is a man who has lived off our money and our taxes his entire life. He is a man who has ruined Slovakia, yet he dares to call my family parasites and fraudsters," stated Simecka. He added that the consolidation prepared by Fico's government is set to drive Slovaks into poverty, noting that Fico has turned everyone against himself, with his government betraying, for instance, trade unionists and firefighters, among others. Asked whether his mother had duplicated invoices, he said this issue should be addressed by the competent authorities. BRATISLAVA – State authorities are required by law to immediately notify law enforcement bodies of any suspected criminal offences, Prosecutor-General Maros Zilinka posted on social media on Saturday, adding that press conferences are not among the forms of notification provided for by law. His statement came in response to a press conference held by Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) on Saturday, accusing opposition Progressive Slovakia leader Michal Simecka's mother Marta Simeckova of subsidy fraud. "State authorities must be aware that they are required to notify the law enforcement bodies of any facts suggesting that a crime has been committed, and they have to do so by means of one of the procedures provided for in the Criminal Procedure Code. A press conference is not included among these," Zilinka stressed, assuring that the prosecution service is aware of its legal obligations. He also reiterated that detection and investigation of criminal offences fall under the authority of the police. jrg