MORNING NEWS HIGHLIGHTS - Thursday, 25 September 2025 - 9 a.m.

TASR brings a quick morning overview of the most important events seen in Slovakia on the previous day (Wednesday, 24 September): NEW YORK - President Peter Pellegrini called for an end to the ongoing war in Ukraine at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) in New York on Tuesday (23 September), TASR has reported. "As a neighbouring country, Slovakia is very concerned about the situation in Ukraine. The consequences [of the war] go beyond the borders of Ukraine, affecting global peace, security and justice. The UN Charter was created 80 years ago to prevent anyone from imposing their will on sovereign neighbours or annexing territories by force. We must stand firmly against such actions," said the president at the beginning of his speech. According to Pellegrini, the UN Security Council has an important role to play in maintaining peace and security and adhering to the UN Charter. "However, the war in Ukraine has lasted for more than 1,300 days. It's not just a European problem, it concerns us all. We have long believed that such meetings wouldn't be necessary. We must consistently defend the UN Charter so that such behaviour is not repeated anywhere in the world in the future," said the Slovak head of state. BORSA/BRATISLAVA - At its away-from-home session held in the village of Borsa (Kosice region) on Wednesday, the government decided to provide over €2 million to help improve the economic and social situation in the districts of Trebisov and Roznava, with more than €1.5 million going to specific local government projects in the two eastern-Slovak districts. For the host municipality of Borsa, the cabinet approved an allocation of €110,000 for reconstructing the local road leading to the castle of Francis Rakoci II. The government will contribute €50,000 to the municipality of Roznava for constructing an access road to its industrial zone and reconstructing the ice-hockey stadium. The town of Trebisov will obtain €50,000 for reconstructing pavements and parking areas and lighting Marianske Square. BRATISLAVA - The opposition condemned the early termination of parliamentary debate on the consolidation bill, calling it a violation of basic democratic principles, an act of arrogance, and a display of dictatorial behaviour. More than 40 MPs were still registered to speak when the debate was cut short on Wednesday. This criticism was voiced by MPs Marian Viskupic (Freedom and Solidarity), Michal Sipos ('Slovakia'-For the People-Christian Union alliance), and Michal Simecka (Progressive Slovakia). „The coalition once again shows it has no regard for basic democratic principles – that MPs should be able to speak, to debate," said Viskupic. He noted that although MPs could submit amendments in writing, this was not how proper parliamentary debate should be conducted. „They simply cut off the discussion – this is the height of arrogance in its rawest form," he added. BRATISLAVA - Slovakia expects additional F-16 fighter jets to arrive next week, while its airspace continues to be protected by allies, said Defence Minister Robert Kalinak (Smer-SD) at a press conference on Tuesday (23 September) in response to a question from TASR. He added that Slovakia could start defending its own airspace next year. "More fighters should arrive, I believe, sometime next week. There's about two of them, and at least two more should be delivered by the end of the year," said Kalinak, adding that the ministry has yet to decide when the fighters currently used for pilot training in Arizona will arrive in Slovakia. According to Kalinak, the deployment of the fighters could commence at the beginning of next year, with full operational capability to be achieved within a few months. LEOPOLDOV - Former Banska Bystrica mob boss Mikulas Cernak, who was given a life sentence, will remain in prison, but the decision of a Trnava District Court senate regarding the proposal for granting Cernak parole is not yet final, as his lawyer has filed an appeal against the verdict, which will be decided on by a regional court. The court came to the conclusion that it wasn't reasonable to expect Cernak to lead a normal life after his release. It pointed out that Cernak committed crimes in a serious, cruel and socially unacceptable manner. The proposal to release Cernak on parole was submitted by Restart-New Life NGO, with Cernak asking to have it considered as his own personal proposal as well. He expressed regret for the multiple murders that he's committed. BRATISLAVA - Former TV Markiza general director and ex-economy minister Pavol Rusko has been acquitted of the attempted murder of former co-owner of the television channel Sylvia Klaus-Volzova by Bratislava Regional Court, TASR learnt on Wednesday. An appeal by the prosecutor and the aggrieved party, Klaus-Volzova, has thus been dismissed by the court on the grounds that Rusko's actions did not constitute preparation for murder. The court also acquitted his three co-defendants: boss of the 'Sykorovci' crime gang Robert 'Bucket' Lalis, former Banska Bystrica mob boss Mikulas Cernak and Milos Kastan. The verdict is final, but none of the acquitted came to hear it. "The preparation, as alleged in the context of facts that the appellate court found unproven, did not reach the level of a crime meeting the attributes of preparation as laid down by the Criminal Code," explained the Court's senate chair Karol Kovac. ko