Message of Slovak National Uprising commemorated in Banská Bystrica

"Every individual has their own choice to make as to which side of the disputes relevant to their era they take - and whether or not they embrace values to help make Slovakia a free, independent, democratic and prosperous country", President Zuzana Čaputová declared in her speech to mark the 76th anniversary of the Slovak National Uprising on Saturday. The annual celebrations took place in front of the Museum of the Slovak National Uprising in Banská Bystrica and were attended by the highest political representatives, as well as war veterans and members of the diplomatic community. In his speech, the Slovak PM Igor Matovič stated that the 1944-45 Slovak National Uprising serves as a symbol of Slovak courage. According to the Parliament Speaker Boris Kollár, "compassion, respect, democracy and peace should become values permanently embedded in Slovakia's national consciousness out of respect for those who fought and died for these values". The Slovak National Uprising was an armed insurrection against the Nazi oppressors and the collaborating Slovak fascist state. It broke out on 29 August 1944 in Banská Bystrica.