Rasi: Staskov School Tragedy Mustn't Become Political Battleground

Bratislava, 2 October (TASR) - The tragedy at the primary school in Staskov mustn't become an arena for party competition or political point-scoring, House Chair Richard Rasi (Voice-SD) stated on Friday. Rasi sent his sympathies to the families of the victims and support for everyone affected by the incident. "There are moments when politics must fall silent. If anyone tries today to score political points from what the bereaved families are going through, they should realise that people will see it and remember it. Staskov isn't a subject for party battles or cheap accusations. It's a human tragedy that has hit our entire Slovakia," declared Rasi. He appealed to both governing and opposition parties, public officials and the media to respect the dignity of the victims, the privacy of the families, and the psychological state of the children, teachers and the entire community. He said that it's unacceptable for people's suffering to be turned into a tool of political struggle. "I don't want to hear who's wiser or who knew about it first. People need peace now, and we are here to help them find it. We must talk about prevention, school safety and support for families, but in a factual, professional and respectful manner. Not in anger, on social media or in front of cameras," he stated. Rasi added that children observe how adults behave in times of crisis. "If adults choose anger and arguments, children will learn that this is how pain is dealt with. If they can show restraint and focus on practical work, they'll gain confidence that the adult world can stand together in difficult moments," he said. The knife attack took place at a school in Staskov (Zilina region), on Tuesday morning, 29 September, leaving two people dead. A 61-year-old teacher died at the scene from her injuries, while a female pupil died on Thursday, 1 October. A 13-year-old eighth-grade pupil, detained by police, is suspected of carrying out the attack. Criminal proceedings have been launched concerning an aggravated offence of murder. mf/df