MORNING NEWS HIGHLIGHTS - Wednesday, 10 December 2025 - 9 a.m.

TASR brings a quick morning overview of the most important events seen in Slovakia on the previous day (Tuesday, 9 December): LIPTOVSKY HRADOK - An express passenger train and a freight train were heading towards each other on the same track in Liptov area (Zilina region) on Tuesday but managed to come to a halt several dozen metres apart, thereby avoiding a collision, national passenger rail carrier ZSSK's spokesperson Jan Bacek told TASR on Tuesday. He added that this extraordinary incident occurred on the railway line between Liptovsky Mikulas and Liptovsky Hradok, when express train Ex 609 managed to stop safely in front of the oncoming freight train. According to Bacek, the circumstances relate to train traffic management falling within the remit of the rail infrastructure manager. ZSSK announced on social media that some trains have been delayed or cancelled as a result of the incident. BRATISLAVA - The opposition Christian Democratic Movement (KDH), together with Progressive Slovakia (PS), Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) and the 'Slovakia' party, are convening an extraordinary session of the House committee for public administration and regional development in connection with the latest railway incident in which two trains nearly collided head on, TASR has learnt from the KDH communications department. "We've been following developments on our railways with great concern in recent weeks. Today's incident near Liptovsky Hradok [Zilina region] confirmed that we can't wait any longer for measures that will increase the safety of passenger rail transport and prevent dangerous situations or even train collisions from recurring," said the Christian Democrats. BRATISLAVA - The Whistleblowers Protection Office (UOO) will be transformed into a new Crime Victims and Whistleblowers Protection Office, MPs decided in a vote on Tuesday, approving the Interior Ministry's bill debated via a fast-tracked legislative procedure. In addition to handling the agenda of whistleblowers reporting criminal activity, the new institution will also take over the agenda for compensating the victims of crime from the Justice Ministry. "The [new] office is being set up as an independent state administration authority with nationwide powers, tasked with protecting the rights and legitimate interests of crime victims and whistleblowers reporting unlawful conduct. This is a new legal framework in the sense that, for the first time, it brings the crime victim and whistleblower agenda under a single institution," explained the Interior Ministry. According to the ministry, a single authority would enable immediate and coordinated protection of persons at risk. "The existing system is fragmented across multiple state bodies, thus reducing efficiency and weakening guarantees for victims and whistleblowers," stated the ministry. BRATISLAVA - Bratislava IV Municipal Court has quashed motions filed by Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok (Voice-SD) in which he sought to have electronic communications deemed invalid and to annul the default judgment in his dispute with a group of police officers known as the 'Curilla group', calling them unfounded, the police officers' lawyer Peter Kubina announced on social media on Tuesday. Based on the ruling, Sutaj Estok must apologise to the 'Curilla group' of police investigators for comparing them to convicted crime boss Mikulas Cernak. He'll also have to pay six police officers compensation totalling €90,000, as well as legal costs and late-payment interest. According to Kubina, Sutaj Estok failed to collect his electronic mail, resulting in a 'default' loss. He added that the minister is currently subject to distraint proceedings and that the bailiff has frozen funds in his account to cover the compensation. BRATISLAVA/ZILINA - Prosecutor-General Maros Zilinka has removed Tomas Balogh from the post of regional prosecutor in Zilina following a prior recommendation from the Council of Slovak Prosecutors, TASR has learnt from Prosecutor-General's Office spokesperson Zuzana Drobova. "Following a prior recommendation from the Prosecutors' Council, Prosecutor-General Maros Zilinka has today removed Tomas Balogh from the post of head prosecutor at the Regional Prosecutor's Office in Zilina," stated Drobova, adding that until the post is filled via a selection procedure, the powers of the regional prosecutor will be exercised by the deputy regional prosecutor for criminal matters. Balogh had sent several letters to the parliamentary defence and security committee, accusing Zilinka of unlawful interference in high-profile political cases. Zilinka rejected the allegations and said that he initiated Balogh's removal due to breaches of the law during the purchase of furniture for the prosecutor's office. BRATISLAVA - The visit by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to Slovakia is a very important signal in bilateral relations and a step towards strengthening the alliance between Slovakia and Azerbaijan, stated Premier Robert Fico (Smer-SD) following his meeting with the Azerbaijani head of state on Tuesday during his two-day visit to Slovakia. The discussion focused on developing economic relations, particularly in the energy sector. Fico pointed out that Azerbaijan is an important partner in diversifying gas sources and transport routes. "This role is even more important in the context of RePowerEU, which aims to stop Russian gas imports to the EU by the end of 2027," stressed the prime minister. The topics of discussion also included cooperation in the defence industry, as well as cooperation between the Slovak and Azerbaijani armed forces in the areas of military education, training and exercises. They also touched on cooperation in the field of transport. ko