Rallies Across Slovakia Demanded Departure of Police Corps President Gaspar
Bratislava, April 5 (TASR) – Thousands of people gathered again at SNP Square in Bratislava at another rally called ‘For a Decent Slovakia’, TASR learnt on Thursday.
The main demand of the fifth event with this name was the departure of Police Corps President Tibor Gaspar. The rally was peaceful, not disturbed by any incidents.
The protest began with a minute of silence to honour the murdered Jan Kuciak and Martina Kusnirova. The organisers reiterated that the investigation into the deaths of these two young people is still their main requirement. Organiser Karolina Farska stated that the current Government is still unwilling to realise that the dismissal of Gaspar is the first necessary step for the public to be able to start to believe that the journalist’s murder and the cases he pointed to will be investigated independently.
Besides the resignation of the police chief, the ‘For a Decent Slovakia’ initiative calls for systemic changes in the police and depoliticisation of its leadership. The organisers declared at the end of the rally that they are committed to continue in the protests until Gaspar is gone.
Another ‘For a Decent Slovakia’ rally was held in the centre of Kosice. The event, which passed off without incident, attracted more than 2,000 people to the Main Street. The protest was also joined by farmers from eastern Slovakia, who claim they are being forced out from their own land by organised groups. New Interior Minister Tomas Drucker (a Smer-SD nominee) should, according to a call from the gathering, carry out measures to restore people’s trust in the police and the Interior Ministry.
Several thousand people gathered on Andrej Hlinka Square in Zilina at a ‘For a Decent Slovakia’ rally on Thursday afternoon. One of its goals, according to one of the organisers, was to clearly express their disagreement with the fact that Interior Minister Tomas Drucker still hasn’t dismissed Police Corps President Tibor Gaspar.
More than 2,000 people gathered in Presov on Thursday. Their placards were full of calls to oust Police Corps President Tibor Gaspar, criticism of Special Prosecutor Dusan Kovacik and the crowd demanded a snap election. ‘For a Decent Slovakia’ rallies were also held in other Slovak towns, including Nitra, Banska Bystrica and Trnava.
