A meeting took place with students and Viera Dubachova — a director, journalist, volunteer, and former deputy — at a school in the city of Nitra, Slovakia.
About the Historical Path to Freedom
They discussed the main topics. The historical path of Slovakia and Ukraine: the student revolution of 1989, Slovakia's path to freedom, parallels of the collapse of the USSR, Russian influence on Ukraine, the Maidan protests of 2004 and 2014, the annexation of Crimea, and the full-scale invasion of 2022.
They explained to the students that freedom and liberty for Ukrainians is not an abstraction but a daily struggle. And as long as Ukraine holds its defense and resists the aggressor, Slovakia will also maintain its freedom. The students eagerly joined the "chalk revolution" — a symbolic gesture of solidarity.
In the context of the influence of Russian propaganda on political decisions, an honest thesis was voiced:
“Who is the manipulator? — Putin.
Who does Fico bow to? — Putin.”
Separately, Viera held a lively conversation with the students — sharing thoughts about the future, responsibility, and European values.
The Voice of a Student That Shook the Hall
The most striking was the emotional speech of one of the students:
“I have experienced communism in my family, and that is why I do not want politics to be perceived in a neighborly way: if my neighbor votes for something, then I will vote for the same. I told my grandmother: I will not force you to vote for Progressive Slovakia or not to vote for Fico — I just ask you to verify the information.”
“I have experienced communist times in my family, and therefore I no longer want politics to be perceived ‘neighborly’: if my neighbor votes for something, then I will too. I told my grandmother: I do not force you to vote for Progressive Slovakia or not to vote for Fico — I only ask that you verify the information.”
“Grandma says: I see on TV what they do. And I reply: okay, and what did you see during communism? Only one side, one propaganda channel.”
“Grandma says: ‘I see on TV what they do.’ And I reply: okay, and what did you see during communism? Only one side, one propaganda channel.”
“Now she has a phone, and I explain to her: open Facebook, look at the other side too, compare, think, make your own opinion — what is good for you and what is bad.”
“Now she has a phone, and I explain: open Facebook, look at the other point of view, compare, think, make your own conclusion — what is good for you and what is not.”
“Because when Fico goes out and says that Progressive Slovakia wants to legalize marijuana or ‘introduce 150 genders into the constitution,’ it is just manipulation. He puts himself in a ridiculous light when he enshrines in law something that makes no sense at all.”
“Because when Fico goes out and says that Progressive Slovakia wants to legalize marijuana or ‘write 150 genders into the Constitution’ — this is just manipulation. He puts himself in a ridiculous light by enshrining in law things that make no sense at all.”
“And I repeat to the students and at home to my grandmother: we should not convince people to join our camp. We should teach them to form their own opinion. That is the foundation of democracy and freedom.”
“And I repeat to the students and at home to my grandmother: we should not convince people to join our camp, but teach them to form their own opinion. This is the foundation of democracy and freedom.”
The War is Already Here
Viera Dubachova continued:
“And now to the main point. The war is here. And it threatens each one of you. My sister said for three years: Don’t talk to me about war. And now she says: It is approaching. The Poles are arming themselves. If they attack Lithuania or Latvia — the whole EU and NATO will be involved. That war is no longer far away. It is here.”
“And now about the main thing. The war is here. It threatens each one of you. My sister said for three years: ‘Don’t talk to me about war.’ And now she says: ‘It is approaching.’ The Poles are arming themselves. If they attack Lithuania or Latvia — the whole EU and NATO will be involved. That war is no longer far away. It is here.”
The Duty to Take to the Streets
Student:
“And regarding the squares — I do not understand why there are so few young people there. Your voice is not just a piece of paper that you throw into the ballot box. If you disagree with something — it is your duty to go to the square and say it out loud. Otherwise, nothing will change.”
“And regarding the squares — I do not understand why there are so few young people there. Your voice is not just a piece of paper in the ballot box. If you disagree with something — it is your duty to go to the square and say it out loud. Otherwise, nothing will change.”
“The nation chose this government. But those who voted for the opposition have a duty to express their dissent. Now it is still easy — just come and stand for your freedom.”
“The nation chose this government. But those who voted for the opposition have a duty to show their protest. Now it is still easy — just come and stand for your freedom.”
“But if elections cease to be democratic and the police start beating protesters, as during the Candle Demonstration — there will be even fewer of us there. And then nothing can change at all.”
“But if elections cease to be democratic and the police start beating protesters, like during the Candle Demonstration — there will be even fewer of us there. And then nothing can change at all.”
The Pain of a Teacher
The educator shared:
“Yesterday I went to a protest, and a stream of young people was coming towards me — heading to the Centro Nitra shopping center. I don’t know if freedom is even a topic that interests them. They have freedom, but they do not understand that it is only for now. We remember how it was. They do not.”
“Yesterday I went to a protest, and a stream of young people was coming towards me — heading to the Centro Nitra shopping center. I don’t know if freedom is even a topic that interests them. They have freedom, but they do not understand that it is only for now. We remember how it was. They do not.”
“That is why there were so many people my age in the square. And when I saw at least a few younger ones — I was happy. Both of my children were there with me. But it hurt me to see other young people just walking by, looking at us and moving on… That hurts.”
“That is why there were so many people my age in the square. And when I saw at least a few younger ones — I was happy. Both of my children were there with me. But it hurt to see other young people just walking by, looking at us and moving on… That hurts.”
We equally understand: sustainable peace is possible only when it is based on the norms of international law and the freedom of citizens.
We sincerely thank Slovakia and all the students for supporting Ukraine from the very first day of the full-scale Russian aggression. We are grateful for the genuine interest in Ukraine from the Slovak youth and people.
