At the end of this month Slovakia will hold celebrations of the 70th anniversary of the Slovak National Uprising (SNP) in Banska Bystrica, central Slovakia. Former Slovak President Ivan Gasparovic invited presidents of all counties whose armed forces participated in the liberation of Slovakia in 1944 and 1945 back in May.
He also invited the Ukrainian as well as the Russian President. This was at a time when Russia had annexed Crimea from Ukraine and the EU, and the USA had imposed the first wave of sanctions on Russia. As the organiser of the event confirmed, Presidents of Poland and Czech Republic are to attend the event. Russian President Vladimir Putin will not arrive to Slovakia for this event; instead the Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu will attend.
