Slovak Ministry of Culture resumes cooperation with Russia and Belarus

Bratislava, Slovakia (Svidomi) — Slovakia's new Minister of Culture, Martina Šimkovičová, a representative of the Slovak National Party, has allowed cooperation with Russia and Belarus to resume. The ban had been in place since March 2022.

In March 2022, the Ministry of Culture, under the leadership of former Minister Natália Milanová, issued an order suspending all cooperation with Russia and Belarus. 

The document prohibited any contact with institutions of the respective countries, organisations located on their territory, or financial ties with public or private sources from Russia or Belarus.

Any communication that went beyond a one-time notice of termination was considered a gross violation of labour discipline.

However, the Slovak media outlet Pravda has in its possession the decision of the new head of the Ministry of Culture, Šimkovičová. It is dated January 12 and lifts restrictions on cooperation with Russia and Belarus. The decision came into force on January 15, 2024.

"There are dozens of military conflicts in the world, and we believe that artists and culture should not pay the price," Šimkovičová's spokesperson told reporters.

Šimkovičová's party, the Slovak National Party, is part of a coalition with the pro-Russian Smer party and the Hlas party.