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2019 SLOVENSKÍ BRANCI: A MILITARY HOBBY OR ARMED THREAT?

For at least seven years, an unofficial but yet uniformed paramilitary group is has been recruiting young men around Slovakia. To protect Slovakia, to help “civilians” at times of catastrophes or to teach children. All of this in using narratives that haved been changinged during over the years, from far-right to pro-Russian. And with interesting people who support thes organization.
The organization called Slovenskí Branci (SB) celebrated their 7th anniversary in January, but its history is actually quite rich – it started as unregistered, unofficial group, since the beginning was closely related to another far-right organization – Slovenské Hnutie Obrody.

Slovenskí Branci were also seen in 2012 at the memorial service for Jozef Tiso, the president of a Slovak clero-fascist regime. Later, the leader of the organization Peter Švrček distanced Branci from this event and agreed that it was a mistake. On the other hand, he said for the media that he would not share his personal opinion.

Another controversy has been aroused by the very logo of this paramilitary organization. It is very similar to that of the Nazi youth organization Hitlerjugend. In reaction, Slovenskí Branci told the media they were distancing themselves from “the sick ideals of Nazism and fascism”.

To celebrate their seventh anniversary, Slovenskí branci marched through the streets of Trnava, Slovakia. They were accompanied by Ján Čarnogurský, a former prime minister of Slovakia and his son, a prominent lawyer and businessman.

Slovenskí Branci are also linked to the Night Wolves, a pro-Putin biker gang that stirs controversy even in Slovakia.

A former dissident, prime minister and long-term leader of the Slovak Christian Democratic Party. Despite his high esteem in the past, almost forgotten now, today he stands out for different reasons. Some of them being strongly pro-Russian views, protesting against NATO and an initiative for a monument for Soviet army leader marshal Konev. The general was responsible for the bloody suppression of an anti-communist uprising in Hungary. According to some historians, the number of casualties might be as high as hundreds of thousands.

Today, Čarnogurský’s activities are mostly reported by an alternative-conspiracy-theory media website hlavnespravy.sk.

https://vsquare.org/slovenski-branci-uniformed-fools-or-an-armed-threat/