In Slovakia, a schoolboy with Ukrainian symbols refused to shake the president's hand — video
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World
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In Slovakia, a schoolboy with Ukrainian symbols refused to shake the president's hand — video

In Slovakia, a schoolboy with Ukrainian symbols refused to shake the president's hand — video
Source:  online.ua

On January 13, an award ceremony for the winners of the Mathematical Olympiad was held at the presidential palace in Slovakia. During the event, Simon Omanik, a participant wearing Ukrainian symbols, publicly refused to shake the hand of Slovak President Peter Pellegrini.

Points of attention

  • A participant in a mathematical Olympiad in Slovakia refused to shake the president's hand because of his political views.
  • The schoolboy demonstratively spoke out against the president of Slovakia, accusing him of manipulation and deception of citizens.
  • The participant's actions sparked controversy and discussion in society and the media.
  • Slovak President Peter Pellegrini is known for his position on relations with Russia and his refusal to allow Ukraine to join NATO.

Schoolboy Simon Omanik refused to shake Pellegrini's hand

As noted, the awards were presented to the high school students by Education Minister Tomasz Druker. Simon Omanik, who won a bronze medal at the Central European Mathematical Olympiad, decorated his costume with a yellow-and-blue ribbon.

When President Pellegrini extended his hand to congratulate the student on his achievement, the student defiantly refused. Afterwards, Omanik, Drucker, and Pellegrini took a photo together.

In a comment to the Slovak newspaper Dennik N, Symon explained his actions. He stated that Pellegrini won the election by “deceiving people and manipulating the topic of the war in Ukraine.” According to the guy, this was the reason for his protest.

"It was a lie and an attack on the lowest human instincts of fear and, perhaps, even anti-Ukrainian sentiments in some parts of the Slovak population. And I don't think it would be right to shake hands with such a person or communicate with him, because I don't agree with him and consider him a fraud and a liar," the Slovak schoolboy added.

Peter Pellegrini: what is known

Peter Pellegrini is the leader of the left-wing Holos party, was the Speaker of the Slovak Parliament from 2014 to 2016, and from 2016 to 2018 was Deputy Prime Minister Robert Fico for Investment and Informatization.

From 2018 to March 20, 2020, he was the Prime Minister of Slovakia. The politician shares Fico's position on standardizing relations with Russia. He believes that sanctions against the Russian Federation are largely ineffective.

Opposes Ukraine's accession to NATO.

Recently, Slovak President Pellegrini refused to come to Ukraine due to the suspension of Russian gas transit.

Category
Politics
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The Slovak government has started talking about leaving the European Union

Slovakia again made an anti-European statement
Source:  Denik N

Slovakia may begin the process of leaving the EU, but no one is going to make this decision yet. The Vice Speaker of the Slovak Parliament, Tibor Gaspar, made a statement on this matter.

Points of attention

  • The possibility of Slovakia's exit from the EU is currently at the discussion stage.
  • In addition, the country may also withdraw from NATO.
  • Far-right Slovak deputies traveled to Russia to discuss the continuation of Russian gas supplies.

Slovakia again made an anti-European statement

As Tibor Gaspar noted, the ruling Smer party currently has no priority or goal of leaving the EU or NATO.

Despite this, he drew attention to the fact that each of these alliances "evolves over time" and sometimes not in the way the Slovak authorities would like.

According to the vice speaker, "the door should remain open for a situation where we consider an extreme solution."

"At the moment, Smer does not have a priority and goal of leaving the EU or NATO, but both of these associations are evolving over time, possibly changing some of the basic issues or principles of functioning that existed at the time we joined them, and therefore the door must remain open for a situation where we may consider an extreme solution, such as leaving the EU," Gaspar said.

The Slovak government again chooses a pro-Russian vector

On January 12, it became officially known that a group of far-right Slovak deputies, led by the vice speaker and leader of the nationalist "Slovak National Party" Andrej Danko, set off on a several-day trip to Russia.

By the way, Tibor Gaspar was also among them.

In Moscow, they intended to discuss in detail the continuation of Russian gas supplies after its transit through Ukraine became impossible.

This trip lasted until January 15. Danko and Gaspar held meetings with deputies of the Russian State Duma and some representatives of the Russian government.

Slovak politicians raised the question of whether Gazprom would be able to continue supplying gas to Slovakia after Ukraine did not renew the transit agreement with the Russian company.

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