MORNING NEWS HIGHLIGHTS - Thursday, 26 February 2026 - 9 a.m.

TASR brings a quick morning overview of the most important events seen in Slovakia on the previous day (Wednesday, 25 February): KOMARNO/BRATISLAVA - It hasn't been ruled out that a recent earthquake may have contributed to the collapse of part of the roof of the client centre building on Zahradnicka Street in Komarno, Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok (Voice-SD) stated at the scene of the tragedy in Komarno, where one person died in the early hours of Wednesday and two others were injured. The Interior Ministry has therefore ordered inspections of all buildings under its administration within the radius of the recent seismic activity. "All facilities, whether client centres or other buildings under the administration of the Interior Ministry, will be inspected so that we can rule out any error or any possibility that something similar could happen again," Sutaj Estok said. The Komarno client centre building was put into operation in the 1980s. It was renovated in two phases in 2018 and 2019 using EU funds. The renovation included thermal insulation, refurbishment of interior spaces and expansion of the client centre. "No complaints or warnings were reported that there was any reason to fear the collapse of the roof. A criminal investigation has been launched by an investigator in the case," the minister underlined. According to the minister, the reconstruction project was carried out through a standard, transparent public tender process. The building designer was also selected through a tender. After completion of the works, the building was accepted without any reservations or identified shortcomings. A structural engineer from the Interior Ministry was called to the scene to inspect the entire building. All the emergency services responded to the tragedy in Komarno. One person died and two others were injured. A seriously injured person with a spinal injury was airlifted to the Faculty Hospital with Polyclinic in Nove Zamky (Nitra region). Another person with a minor head injury was taken by ambulance to Nemocnica Agel Komarno. According to the interior minister, those affected were clients, not employees of the client centre. BRATISLAVA - A prosecutor from the Prosecutor-General's Office has joined 24 proceedings conducted at the Administrative Courts in Bratislava and Banska Bystrica in cases of administrative lawsuits involving personnel orders issued against police officers without the consent of the Whistleblowers Protection Office (UOO), Prosecutor-General Maros Zilinka posted this on a social network on Wednesday, adding that the prosecutor has also proposed that the courts should annul the personnel orders as unlawful. Zilinka wrote that "the prosecutor also submitted opinions to the courts regarding the administrative lawsuits along with a proposal to annul the personnel orders on grounds of their unlawfulness". In his response provided ahead of the government's session on Wednesday, Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok (Voice-SD) said he views this as confirmation that Zilinka is standing on the side of police officers. "It's a surprise to me, but we'll act accordingly," said Sutaj Estok. Defence attorney Peter Kubina welcomed the prosecutor's office decision. Posting on social media, Kubina said the move relates to administrative lawsuits filed over the past two years on behalf of police officers who he claims were unlawfully sidelined. According to him, the cases concern officers from the former National Crime Agency (NAKA) and the Internal Affairs Inspectorate. Kubina added that Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok had decided to "carry out his political revenge regardless of the law and the facts merely because these police officers properly performed their duties, which is gradually being confirmed by the courts". BRATISLAVA - The Environment Ministry has lost a court case concerning an exemption permit allowing the shooting of eight bears issued to the Poludnica Hunting Association, TASR learnt on Wednesday. The ruling is final. The news was shared on social media by Deputy Environment Minister Filip Kuffa and the civic initiative My sme les, which brought the lawsuit. The ministry is required to reimburse the claimant in full for the legal costs. The organisation said the senate reproached the ministry for the non-reviewable identification of the bears designated for killing, the absolute insufficiency of documentation for reviewing the issued decision, and the failure to examine alternatives to killing. Kuffa maintains that the ministry still sufficiently assesses technical options. "I don't know what they want - whether I should ask zoos every day if they want bears, whether I should ask those countries every day if they want bears. If this was what the court found lacking, we can remedy it, no problem," he said. SMOLENICE/BRATISLAVA - Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) doesn't rule out scrapping postal voting in parliamentary elections for Slovaks living abroad. Speaking at a press conference during Wednesday's away-from-home cabinet session in the town of Smolenice (Trnava region), Fico stated that although the government is not preparing such a proposal, he would consider it a good idea if it were put forward by lawmakers. At the same time, he wants Slovak citizens to be allowed to vote at embassies and other designated locations abroad. "The government is not preparing such a proposal, but that does not mean that coalition MPs are not discussing it," Fico said in response to a question about the possible abolition of postal voting from abroad. "If MPs come forward with it, I will say it's a good idea. I will ask them to create more polling stations in other countries so that people can come and vote there," he underlined. Fico argued that voting through postal ballots can be manipulated. He questioned whether it would not be more reasonable to agree, for example, that in Canada voting could take place at the embassy as well as at several other locations where citizens could cast their ballots "in a proper democratic way and behind a screen, as it should be". GENEVA/BRATISLAVA - Securing support for Slovakia's candidacy as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for 2028-2029 was the main topic of bilateral meetings held on Tuesday by Foreign and European Affairs Minister Juraj Blanar in Geneva. According to the ministry's press department, Blanar met partners from Africa and Asia with the aim of strengthening political dialogue and promoting Slovakia's bid. "Slovakia is an active and constructive partner in seeking peaceful solutions to conflicts and supporting international law. That is why open dialogue with partners from all regions of the world and the exchange of experience with countries currently serving on the UN Security Council are important to us," Blanar said. In talks with Therese Kayikwamba Wagner, Foreign Minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the two sides exchanged experience regarding the functioning of the United Nations Security Council, confirmed reciprocal support for their candidacies and agreed on closer cooperation on several multilateral issues, primarily related to security. They also expressed interest in developing bilateral relations through bolstered diplomatic representation in the form of honorary consulates. The Democratic Republic of the Congo is currently a non-permanent member of the Security Council, with its mandate running until the end of 2027. Cooperation in tourism was the fulcrum of discussions with Abdulla Khaleel, Foreign Minister of the Maldives. During what was the first-ever bilateral meeting between the two countries' foreign ministers, they also discussed cooperation within the UN and the priorities of Slovakia's candidacy. SMOLENICE - The Slovak government is prepared to take further reciprocal measures against Ukraine, Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) told a briefing following the government's away-from-home session in Smolenice (Trnava region) on Wednesday, adding that the first measure has already been carried out by halting emergency electricity supplies. "We did exactly what we announced and promised. This is the first reciprocal measure that's now in place. The government is ready for further reciprocal measures if we see the Ukrainian president's absolute unwillingness to deliver what we're entitled to and what we've paid for. It goes without saying that this is not Russian oil. This is oil that belongs to the Slovnaft refinery, because Slovnaft purchases this oil at the Belarus-Ukraine border. Ukraine is therefore not transiting Russian oil, as this oil is owned by the Slovnaft company," explained Fico with regard to the situation surrounding the Druzhba oil pipeline in Ukraine which is still out of operation. "We had a fairly serious discussion about this at today's session of the government, and I can see a whole list of further reciprocal measures that are under consideration," warned Fico, adding that it's Ukraine's obligation to transport oil owned by Slovnaft to Slovakia. jrg