Trick or Treat? Definitely a treat as we welcome you to this Friday, October 31 edition of Today in Slovakia – the main news of the day in just a few minutes. So dive in – and Happy Halloween!

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Justice Minister’s proposal would force trans people into divorce. Law would treat them as ‘legally dead’

Justice Minister Boris Susko (Smer) (source: Jaroslav Novák)

A clause in Slovakia’s draft new Civil Code could automatically end the marriages of people who legally change their gender, even without their consent. Human rights advocates are calling it one of the most intrusive provisions in Slovak law in years, news website Aktuality.sk reports.

Justice Minister Boris Susko (Smer) presented the 1,500-page draft as a long-awaited “modernisation” of Slovakia’s outdated communist-era Civil Code. But critics say that instead of protecting individual freedoms, it threatens to strip some citizens of their basic rights.

“Marriage shall end with the change of gender of one of the spouses,” reads Article 343 of the proposal — placed right after the section about declaring a spouse dead.

What’s proposed: If passed, the law would mean that anyone who transitions – even abroad – would automatically lose their marital status. The couple’s property and custody of any children would be handled as if they had divorced. Neither partner’s consent would be required for the process to be triggered. The Justice Ministry says the measure only “clarifies” the legal situation. Slovakia’s Constitution and Family Code now defines marriage strictly as a union between a man and a woman. The new provision, the ministry argues, will prevent a legal contradiction that would arise if one spouse were to transition, thereby effectively creating a same-sex marriage — something Slovak law does not recognise.

Critics identify a serious overreach: Opposition MP Irena Bihariová (Progressive Slovakia) calls the move “an invasion into private life.” “Imagine you have a functioning marriage and the state suddenly tells you it no longer exists,” she said. She argues the proposal contradicts the government’s declared goal of expanding personal freedoms. LGBT+ groups say the law formalises discrimination that already happens informally. According to Dominika Patzko, a lawyer from the initiative Inakosť (Otherness), registry offices often refuse to update gender records unless a person first divorces – even though the law doesn’t require it. “Now the state wants to make this pressure automatic,” she said, adding: “Treating someone’s transition like a death is cruel, illogical and unnecessary.”

How other countries handle it: In several EU countries, if one partner transitions, the marriage can simply convert into a registered partnership. Slovakia, however, does not recognise same-sex partnerships of any kind, leaving no legal way for such couples to stay together.

What experts say: Family law specialist Tamara Čipková, who helped draft the reform, says the clause simply reflects reality. “We’re clarifying what happens when someone changes gender, because until now there was no legal certainty,” she said. Lawyer Milan Ficek added that the rule closes a long-standing legal gap that courts have been forced to interpret, sometimes inconsistently.

What happens next: The proposed Civil Code is currently in public consultation, where institutions and citizens can file objections. Parliament is expected to debate it next year, with the goal of introducing the new code in 2027. But the automatic-divorce clause has already ignited a cultural and political storm – raising the question of whether Susko’s promised “modernisation” will move Slovak law forward, or push it back decades.

What The Slovak Spectator had on Friday: 

Slovakia’s army embraces AI-driven combat drones

An Airvolute drone. (source: Airvolute)

Slovakia is quietly stepping into the future of warfare – and it’s flying high. Soldiers are training on Chinese-made reconnaissance drones, while domestic company Airvolute is developing AI-controlled drones capable of autonomous targeting, Denník N reports. The army may not yet have offensive drones, but the groundwork is being laid for them.

From joystick to AI oversight: The new generation of drones won’t need operators to steer manually. Instead, AI takes full control during flight, with humans simply approving targets. “The operator just monitors and confirms each step on a tablet,” says Airvolute CEO Jozef Rodina. This system can even bypass jamming devices used by modern armoured vehicles – a technology being battle-tested in real time in Ukraine.

VTOL reconnaissance drones as “eyes in the sky”: Airvolute has already unveiled a VTOL (vertical take-off and landing) drone that can hovers for hour and cover hundreds of kilometres. It could monitor the Ukrainian border or search for missing persons, developers say. The army’s 11th specialised regiment and the company Letecké opravovne Trenčín are testing these drones to determine whether domestic technology could complement or replace foreign systems.

Affordable, versatile and universal: Airvolute’s drones are designed for versatility. One platform can operate reconnaissance, FPV (first-person view, or ‘kamikaze’) drones, or even large combat drones. Rodina highlights the cost advantage: while a single modern anti-air missile costs hundreds of thousands of euros, a Slovak drone costs around €1,000 in basic configuration.

Lessons from the frontline: The firm’s experience isn’t just theoretical. “Thanks to our clients, we get real insights from conflict zones,” says Rodina. AI combined with human oversight promises a new era of operational efficiency and safety for Slovak forces, who are gradually expanding drone training beyond reconnaissance units.

A generational leap for Slovak forces: Commanders describe the move as a “generational leap.” Operators are now being trained on reconnaissance drones with the future in mind: when offensive drones arrive, the same soldiers will already be ready to operate them. For Slovakia, AI-controlled drones are not just a tech upgrade – they represent a strategic shift in how the military thinks about air power.

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ATM bandits strike again: Explosions, cash grabs – and a possible mafia revival

An ATM was destroyed by an explosion in the village of Topoľníky, Dunajská Streda district, at the end of last year. Police solved that attack. (source: KR PZ v Trnave)

A wave of ATM explosions is sweeping across Slovakia, with thieves targeting cash machines from Bratislava to Košice, Actuality.sk reports. Since the start of this year, at least 14 ATMs have been destroyed or robbed – most using gas explosions powerful enough to blow open the cash containers.

Late-night raids and gas blasts: The attacks usually happen in the early hours, with masked perpetrators breaking into shops or bank branches, filling ATMs with gas, and detonating them. In some cases, they have been able to make off with tens of thousands of euros before the police could arrive.

The most recent incident took place in Tatranská Lomnica, in the High Tatras, where an assailant damaged a cash dispenser but likely fled empty-handed. Other recent explosions have been reported in Košice, Piešťany, Malacky, Dolná Súča, and in the Bratislava borough of Dúbravka.

A minute to steal €80,000: In one textbook robbery in Rohožník this February, thieves blew up a supermarket ATM, grabbed around €80,000, and escaped on foot – all within a minute. Not all attempts succeed: in Hviezdoslavov, a small town south-east of Bratislava, a thief failed in an attempt to cut open an ATM using an autogenous torch – normally used for slicing through steel – and fled the scene.

Police struggle to catch the culprits: Despite the scale of the attacks, police have yet to announce any major breakthroughs. Each case has triggered criminal proceedings for damage to public property or theft, but arrests are rare. Experts believe the assaults could be the work of an organised, cross-border group operating across central Europe.

What penalties do the thieves face? Legal changes this year mean that thefts under €700 are now treated as minor offences, punishable only by a fine. But when explosions, forced entry or organised involvement are proven, the charge escalates to felony theft, carrying up to two years in prison – or more for repeat offenders.

Echoes of the “ATM mafia” from Sereď: Slovakia has seen similar crime waves before. Between 2004 and 2011, a notorious group dubbed the “ATM mafia” from Sereď tore ATMs out of walls across western Slovakia, using cars and chains. Some of their loot – including safes dumped into the River Váh – still turns up today. In one recent case, the river’s low water level near Sereď revealed the submerged carcase of an ATM, likely from a robbery over a decade ago. Back then, police uncovered a network that had stolen €1.7 million from 13 ATMs using duplicate keys, alarm codes and fake security uniforms.

Organised crime, revived? Authorities fear a modern reincarnation of that group may be behind this year’s spree. If proven, the charges could rise to membership in an organised criminal group – a crime that carries far heavier penalties under Slovak law.

FRIDAY FACEBOOK FEED:

COALITION

• Smer: Transport Minister Jozef Ráž recently took to Facebook to boast that the opening of the R3 expressway section in Tvrdošín has reduced traffic volumes in the town.

• Hlas: Deputy Prime Minister for the Recovery Plan, Peter Kmec, visited a kindergarten in Liptovský Mikuláš that received funding from the Recovery Plan. Kmec praised the project as one of the “successfully implemented” initiatives, highlighted other areas of investment, and sent a message that Slovakia is changing for the better.

• Slovak National Party (SNS): The party each year commemorates the Zvolen Manifesto, marked by a monument erected in a park in Zvolen in 2011. The October 1932 gathering symbolically united nationalist political forces, with Slovak National Party leader Martin Rázus and Hlinka’s Slovak People’s Party (HSNS) leader Andrej Hlinka agreeing to work together. Mário Maruška of the SNS highlights the manifesto’s enduring message: “United we win, divided we fall,” urging schools and young people to reflect on its historical significance. (“Victory” for the HSNS resulted in its 1938-1945 government, under which tens of thousands of Slovaks died violent deaths.)

OPPOSITION:

• Progressive Slovakia: “This is so sad. Fico’s propaganda manipulates people to the point of denying reality. All of this is just to distract from the poverty and impoverishment he has plunged Slovakia into. We must firmly stand against these lies. Speak up, and tell the truth.” This is a Facebook post by Progressive Slovakia following a discussion at a local bar, probably in Myjava district, where party leader Michal Šimečka spoke with Slovaks who were denying the massacre of civilians in Bucha, Ukraine, by Russian troops in March 2022.

• Christian Democratic Movement (KDH): KDH MP Marián Čaučík noted that the licence for Bratislava’s only remaining casino expires today, fulfilling what he called “the will of the people”. He added that the KDH hopes the casino will remain closed; the president has still to sign a new law that might revive it.

• Freedom and Solidarity (SaS): SaS announces that on Tuesday, November 4, the discussion “Women in politics” will take place in Žilina, featuring SaS MPs Lucia Ďuriš Nicholsonová, Vladimíra Marcinková and Martina Bajo Holečková.

• Slovensko: Natália Milanová, a former culture minister, criticises the government for failing to use European Union funds over the past two years to restore Slovakia’s national cultural monuments.

In other news

• Tourist information centres from around Slovakia’s Prešov Region and the Slovak-Polish border area have signed a memorandum of cooperation in Stará Ľubovňa. The agreement aims to strengthen cross-border ties in tourism, promotion and knowledge exchange, the Šariš Regional Tourism Organisation (OOCR Región Šariš) said. The initiative, led by OOCR Severný Spiš – Pieniny and OOCR Región Šariš, seeks to present the area as a single, borderless tourist destination. “Tourism knows no borders – by sharing experience and ideas, we can offer visitors a richer, unified experience,” said regional representatives. The memorandum is not legally binding, but it confirms a shared commitment to long-term cooperation and joint development of tourism in eastern Slovakia and southern Poland.

• Direct express trains between Bratislava and Banská Bystrica will resume running from Bratislava Main Station from 8 November, the state railway company ZSSK has announced. However, passengers will still face four more days of major service disruptions next week. Currently, most express trains on this route depart from Bratislava–Nové Mesto station, and all are replaced by buses between Levice and Kozárovce due to ongoing track works. The construction near Bratislava Main Station was originally set to finish by 28 October, but has been extended. From Monday to Thursday next week, part of the express services will be replaced by buses between Šurany and Kozárovce, a longer section than usual. Local trains will also run with replacement buses between Úľany nad Žitavou and Kozárovce. Track closures on the Pohronie express route began last year, and direct connections have been suspended for more than a year.

• A new legal amendment specifying a 6 km/h speed limit on pavements has sparked ridicule online, with users joking that pedestrians must now walk slowly by law. Officials from Smer – the amendment was drafted by the party’s former transport minister, Ľubomír Vážny – insist the rule does not apply to pedestrians or runners, but to cyclists and e-scooter riders using pavements. Deputy Defence Minister Igor Melicher called the backlash a “misunderstanding”, saying the law’s goal is to protect pedestrians, not restrict them. Smer’s Tobiáš Longauer also criticised the media for spreading “nonsense”, adding that the change will make sidewalks safer.

• Half of Slovaks worry AI could spread misinformation, a Go4insight survey shows. Globally, 45 percent are concerned, with Slovaks slightly above average at 50 percent. Worries rise with age and education, hitting 70 percent among 55- to 64-year-olds. Men in Slovakia are more concerned than women. Attitudes differ worldwide: Africa and Asia are more optimistic, while Europe and North America show higher concern. Finns lead at 59 percent, Chinese are the least worried, at 21 percent. Overall, 87 percent worldwide see AI as a potential misinformation risk, but most say they lack the tools to manage it. The survey data comes from 500 Slovak respondents who were questioned in January 2025.

• From the 2027/28 school year onwards, students will only be able to transfer to bilingual grammar schools in Bratislava after completing the ninth grade of primary school. This means that eighth graders will no longer be able to start the five-year programme. The change, introduced by Education Minister Tomáš Drucker, aims to better prepare students for the demands of bilingual studies. School principals have expressed concern that it could reduce interest in bilingual programmes, but the ministry says there is no need to worry, as demand for the courses remains high.

• Miriam Šramová, a pro-government influencer, worked at the Slovak Ministry of Investments, Regional Development and Informatisation on a full-time contract, which was later terminated by Minister Samuel Migaľ. Šramová presents herself as a journalist but has been criticised for giving uncritical platforms to politicians and spreading disinformation. Her social media activity often overlapped with working hours, leading critics to suggest her information warfare activities were effectively being subsidised by taxpayers.

• The sons of prosecutor Bystrík Palovič Sr – Bystrík Jr and Rastislav – have acquired properties in a new luxury villa on Bratislava’s Bartoňova Street built by a company linked to businessman Ladislav Bašternák. Bystrík Jr, who is also a prosecutor, says he bought his apartment from the company Gode, not directly from Bašternák. Rastislav, a lawyer, recently purchased a shared apartment with attorney Lucia Halvoňová. Both sons have previously faced scrutiny over properties connected to Bašternák, a convicted tax fraudster.

Romanian athlete Iona Flavia Cazan competing in the Special Olympics European Figure Skating Championships in Prešov earlier today, Friday October 31. (source: TASR / Veronika Mihaliková)

• Experience “Dušičky” at the New Castle in Banská Štiavnica: The Slovak Museum of Mining invites visitors this Friday to the 11th edition of Dušičky z Nového zámku, offering a unique view of Banská Štiavnica’s illuminated centre. The doors will remain open until 22:00, allowing guests to enjoy the city and nearby cemeteries from the castle’s highest floor. The programme includes: 18:00 – Archaeologist Tadeáš Macko on Karner sv. Michala – secrets of mediaeval ossuaries; a talk by psychologist Renáta Hovorka Taligová, Traces of Our Ancestors in Our Lives, and a closing performance by tenor Marek Tokoš with pianist Marek Matava. It promises to be a stirring blend of history, reflection and music in an atmospheric setting.

COMING UP NEXT WEEK

MONDAY, November 3:

• 10:00 – Press Conference of the Bratislava Cultural and Information Centre
  Topic: Bratislava Christmas – cultural programme, main Christmas market, market town, and winter festival updates
  Location: Františkánske Square, Bratislava

• 10:30 – Press Conference of the Central European House of Photography
  Topic: Month of Photography – exhibition programme and planned accompanying events
  Location: Central European House of Photography, Art Club Studňa, Prepoštská Street 4, Bratislava

• 15:00 – The Cemetery That Speaks – Guided Walk of Skalica Cemeteries
  Location: Near the House of Mourning, Skalica

• 19:00 – SAVinci Science Café
  Talk by historian Miriam Hlavačková on mediaeval art of the good death
  Location: Kácečko, Kamenné Square 1/a, Bratislava

TUESDAY, November 4:

• 09:00 – Decarbonisation of the Slovak Economy – Conference (4-5 November)
  Location: Einpark, Einsteinova Street 33, Bratislava

• 10:00 – KPMG and Finstat Media Meeting
  Topic: Release of the 2nd edition of the study Slovakia in Numbers – How Slovak Companies Are Doing
  Location: KPMG, River Park, Dvořákovo Embankment 10, Bratislava

• 18:00 – Silence After Daniel
  Event by the Faculty of Arts, Comenius University, marking 20 years since the murder of Bratislava student Daniel Tupý

1. 18:00 – Presentation of an artwork by Milan Stanec

2. 18:45 – Discussion Is It Safe Here?

3. 20:30 – Concert: We’re All in This Together – Viktor Ori
   Location: FF UK, Atrium & Moyzes Hall, Gondova Street 2, Bratislava

WEDNESDAY, November 5:

• 09:00 – Press Conference on the Left Bank of the Danube Project
  Details: Ian Bogle will present the project concept, including previously unreleased visualisations
  Location: UNIQ, Staromestská Street 3, new Cresco Real Estate showroom, access via Veterná Street, Bratislava

• 13:00 – Briefing by Former FBI Chief Negotiator Gary Noesner
  Occasion: Visit to Slovakia
  Location: Chateau Belá, Belá

• 17:30 – Protest March by Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) Party
  Purpose: Call for the dismissal of Slovak Information Service (SIS) intelligence agency director Pavol Gašpar
  Route: From SNP Square to the Government Office, Námestie Slobody, Bratislava

THURSDAY, November 6:

• 10:00 – Press Conference AHK Slovakia
  Topic: Slovakia through investors’ eyes – German companies’ expectations for 2026, and the impact of the difficult economic situation on company results and contributions to the Slovak state budget
  Location: AHK Slovakia, The Europeum, Block B, 4th Floor, Suché mýto 1, Bratislava
  Online: Via MS Teams

FRIDAY, November 7:

SUNDAY, November 8:

• 11:00 – Charitable Bazaar by Odevná banka
  Event: “Style Yourself for Good” – a bazaar featuring clothing donated by well-known Slovak personalities
  Location: Nivy Shopping Centre, 1st floor, Bratislava

WEEKEND WEATHER IN SLOVAKIA:

• Saturday: Clear to partly cloudy skies, with mostly cloudy conditions gradually spreading, and occasional fog. Highs of 13-18°C.

• Sunday: Cloudy to overcast skies, with occasional breaks in the clouds. Patchy fog possible overnight and in the morning. Isolated light rain in the western half of the country towards evening. Warm for November, with highs of 13–18 °C.

• Monday: Cloudy to overcast, with rain or showers gradually spreading from the west to several areas, turning to snow in higher elevations during the day. Highs of 8–13 °C.

The SHMÚ has issued a strong wind warning for Banská Bystrica, Prešov and Žilina Regions on Saturday and Sunday.

NAME DAYS: Denis, Denisa (Saturday, November 1), Hubert (Monday, November 3)

Thanks for reading – and for making us part of your routine. Have a great weekend; we’ll be back on Monday.

P.S. If you have suggestions on how our news overview can be improved, you can reach us at [email protected].

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