Slovak police accuse three youths of Nazism promotion

Slovak police accused three young men of promotion of Nazism, who gave the Nazi salute and called Nazi slogans in February in Puchov, central Slovakia, Trencin police spokeswoman Katarina Hlavacova told CTK today.

One of the youths faces up to three years in prison if found guilty, the other two who have not yet turned 18 face up to 18 months in prison.

Several attacks against foreigners have recently been reported in Slovakia of which right-wing extremists are suspected.

The People Against Racism NGO pointed to an attack against Mexican students and a Spaniard in Bratislava. The case is under investigation.

Slovak police challenged the statements of a man from Nigeria who claims that a group of men hit him, kicked him and abused him verbally in Bratislava.

According to official statistics, some 200 racially-motivated attacks occurred in Slovakia last year. However, People Against Racism says that the actual number of racially-motivated attacks is much higher because many victims did not report the attack to the police.

Last week, the activists criticised the Slovak Interior Ministry for not fighting against extremism efficiently.