MORNING NEWS HIGHLIGHTS - Sunday, 15 February 2026 - 9 a.m.

TASR brings a quick morning overview of the most important events seen in Slovakia on the previous day (Saturday, 14 February): BRATISLAVA - The junior governing Slovak National Party (SNS) has called on Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok (Voice-SD) to ensure that the widely reported information regarding the alleged Slovak citizenship of Karyna Shuliak, originally from Belarus, is examined and publicly confirmed or refuted, SNS spokesperson Zuzana Skopcova told TASR on Saturday. Shuliak is described as the last partner of financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, from whose estate she's reportedly inherited 100 million dollars, 48 diamonds and several properties. If she was not entitled to Slovak citizenship, SNS wants it to be revoked and responsibility to be drawn against those who helped her obtain it. "We view it as extremely important to examine the veracity of this information. If her Slovak citizenship isn't confirmed, we request the Interior Ministry to officially deny this fact," said the spokesperson. According to SNS, the name of the Slovak Republic must not be unjustifiably associated with negatively perceived, internationally monitored cases. BRATISLAVA - Ex-minister of foreign affairs Miroslav Lajcak has denied having anything to do with Karyna Shuliak and her alleged Slovak citizenship. Lajcak said it on Saturday in response to the junior governing Slovak National Party (SNS), which has called for verification of the media report suggesting that Shuliak, the last partner of financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, might hold Slovak citizenship. "I have nothing to do with the person in question or her alleged Slovak citizenship," Lajcak has told TASR. BRATISLAVA - Slovakia has sufficient emergency stocks of oil and oil products in line with the relevant EU and Slovak legislation and the State Material Reserves Administration (SSHR) is ready to release the necessary amount of these stocks with the government's consent, SSHR informed TASR on Saturday. SSHR also declared that it took necessary measures immediately after being informed about the interruption of oil supplies to the Slovak territory via the Druzhba oil pipeline. "In response to the situation, SSHR has promptly convened a special meeting of the NESO Oil Security Commission, which will take place on Monday (16 February). The commission will assess the current situation, the level of potential threat and further steps in securing oil supplies," the administration explained. MILAN - The Slovak ice-hockey team has made it to quarter-finals of the Winter Olympic Games in Milan, Italy. Despite losing 3:5 to Sweden on Saturday, the Slovak team coached by Vladimir Orszagh finished first in Group B, ahead of the favoured teams of Finland and Sweden. The Slovaks progressed on the basis of their position in the mini-table. They were level with Finland and Sweden on three points in their head-to-head standings and six points overall, but Slovakia secured top spot thanks to the best goal difference among the trio (7–6). Finland finished second in the group (5–5), while the "Tre Kronor" ended third with a negative goal difference of 6–7. ko