Slovakia - October 2022

Two men were killed outside of a LGBTQIA+ bar in Bratislava by the son of a former far-right politician, in an attack that prosecutors have since labelled an act of terrorism. The killings have spurred a wider debate on LGBTQIA+ rights and hate speech in Slovakia, and come as the Interior Ministry released a report last month warning that extremism has been on the rise over the past two years. Simultaneously this month, members of the Slovakian parliament failed to pass legislation which would facilitate registered partnerships for LGBTQIA+ couples. If passed, the ‘cohabitation bill’ would have been the first step towards providing basic rights for the LGBTQIA+ community, according to President Čaputová.  

Sources: Reuters; The Slovak Spectator; Národná rada Slovenskej republiky; Denník N