Slovakia's first president Michal Kováč has been laid to rest at a state funeral ceremony in Bratislava, today, October 13. He served in office between 1993 and 1998. His funeral was attended by foreign heads of state including Czech President Miloš Zeman, former Czech president Vaclav Klaus and former Hungarian president Pal Schmitt as well as former Romanian president Emil Constantinescu.
Crowds attended the first part of the ceremony which took place at Bratislava Castle. Bells rang out across the city at 12:00 noon. The casket containing the body of the former president was mounted on artillery howitzers. The funeral procession proceeded from Bratislava Castle to the Presidential Palace.
At 1 p.m., the Slovak national anthem was played, followed by a minute of silence. Then a memorial service took place at Saint Martin's cathedral. In a private ceremony, President Kováč was buried in a family grave at Ondřejská cemetery. The first Slovak president died of heart failure on October 5 at the age of 86.
