Drucker: Red Army Liberated Us, But Russian Regime Attacked Its Neighbour

Bratislava, April 25 (TASR) - On the one hand, the Red Army liberated Slovak territory at the end of the Second World War, but on the other, the Russian regime has violated international law by attacking its neighbour Ukraine, and this can't be recognised as legitimate, said Slovak Education Minister Tomas Drucker (Voice-SD) on Friday in connection with Premier Robert Fico's (Smer-SD) planned attendance at celebrations to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of WWII in Moscow. "I understand, or at least I try to understand and acknowledge, the premier's position. He's trying to strike a balance, and perhaps wishes to focus on the first part I mentioned: gratitude. But this is a political stance that the premier is defending on his own. I've spoken for myself, and I believe also for the Voice-SD party. We have great respect and deep admiration for those who gave their lives to liberate our country, our Slovakia, and we're talking about tens of thousands of people. But at the same time, we must be absolutely clear, to avoid any misunderstanding, that this gratitude shouldn't be used to legitimise or justify what is happening in Ukraine," said Drucker. Premier Fico plans to attend celebrations in Moscow marking the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, stating that he wishes to honour the thousands of Red Army soldiers who were killed liberating Slovakia as well as the millions of other victims of "Nazi madness". lin/df