Foreign ministry summons Russian ambassador over desecration claims

The Foreign and European Affairs Ministry has summoned Russian Ambassador to Slovakia Igor Bratchikov over his recent statements on the alleged desecration of the graves of fallen Russian WW1 soldiers at a military cemetery in the village of Ladomirova in Presov region. In a statement issued by the ministry’s press department, the ministry alleged that the Russian ambassador’s claims were ‘fabricated’ and served as ‘a vehicle of Russian propaganda in Slovakia’, with their aim being ‘to polarise society and spread aggressive moods.’ Last week, the Russian Embassy claimed that Ladomirova mayor Vladislav Cuper used earth-movers to raze the graves to the ground, and sent a diplomatic note about this to the Slovak Embassy. The mayor has denied this, saying that the cemetery had been renovated but the graves left intact.