President to attend SNP commemoration, Kotleba snubbed

The commemoration of the 71st anniversary of the Slovak National Uprising (SNP) on Saturday will feature all three top constitutional officials, while Banská Bystrica region governor Marian Kotleba wasn't invited, SNP Museum director Stanislav Mičev said at a press conference on Tuesday. "We have it confirmed that the President [Andrej Kiska], who's recovering from surgery, will come", said Mičev. Other guests will include Parliamentary Chairman Peter Pellegrini, Prime Minister Robert Fico, Romanian Chamber of Deputies head Valeriu Zgonea and representatives of 36 embassies. While Kotleba as regional governor won't take part, regional councillors will lay a wreath at the SNP memorial in the name of the Banská Bystrica self-governing region. According to Mičev, "We haven't invited Mr. Kotleba, and we'll never invite him, either". Nevertheless, he said that he's heard that Kotleba might appear in any event. It remains to be seen if Kotleba indeed comes, however - but if he describes SNP as a "black day" in Slovakia's history, there's no reason why he should come, added Mičev. The commemorative event will begin at 10 a.m. with a flyover of military jets from the nearby Sliač air base and the laying of wreaths.