It has been twenty years since the brutal murder of 21-year-old student Daniel Tupý, yet the case remains unsolved. On the night of November 4, 2005, Daniel and his friends were attacked by a group of about fifteen men on Bratislava’s riverbank Tyršovo nábrežie. The assault, carried out with knives and brass knuckles, was swift and brutal. Daniel was the only one who did not survive. At the time, Slovakia’s interior minister was Vladimír Palko.
He called it a brutal and senseless tragedy and said he wanted to do everything he could to see it solved. Unfortunately, the murder remained unsolved. As a politician, he says the case of Daniel Tupý is something he still counts among his personal defeats.
Over the past twenty years, police have charged several suspects — all were eventually cleared. The investigation was then suspended for eleven years before being reopened in 2023, when NAKA charged lawyer Adam Puškár, who denies guilt and remains free. A key witness, former NAKA operative Vladimír Malíček, is himself suspected of involvement in the murder. The next court hearing is scheduled for January 23.
Daniel’s father, Daniel Tupý Sr., says he no longer believes in the rule of law. After November 4th, the family will ask the court to hear again from all witnesses who previously refused to testify out of fear of prosecution. He says they can only hope the court will listen to everyone and finally make a decision.
Daniel Tupý will be remembered at a public gathering on the riverbank on Tuesday evening. His memory will also be honored by the Faculty of Arts at Comenius University, which will hold an event titled “Silence after Daniel”.
Source: STVR
