Banská Bystrica, March 25, 2026 – Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Slovakia, Zhanna Saginova, visited the city of Banská Bystrica and took part in a commemorative event marking the 81st anniversary of the city’s liberation.

The ceremony was attended by President of the Slovak Republic Peter Pellegrini, members of the National Council of the Slovak Republic, city officials and residents, as well as representatives of the diplomatic corps. The event concluded with a wreath-laying ceremony at the monument to fallen soldiers of the Red Army.

As part of the visit, a meeting was held with Marina Spirová, Chair of the Banská Bystrica Regional Chamber of Commerce and Industry, during which opportunities for strengthening cooperation between the regions of Kazakhstan and Slovakia were discussed. The Ambassador proposed establishing direct working contacts with national business organizations. Specific areas of cooperation included the signing of memoranda of understanding, the organization of business forums, and mutual visits of business delegations. Ms. Spirová expressed support for the proposals and readiness to initiate the signing of a cooperation memorandum with one of the regional chambers, as well as to host a delegation of entrepreneurs from Kazakhstan.

The Ambassador also visited the Secondary Vocational School Pod Bánošom, where 32 students from Kazakhstan are currently studying. This unique institution, with a 70-year history, specializes in training professionals in agriculture, the food industry, and rural services. The Ambassador met with the Kazakh students, familiarized herself with the educational process and their living conditions, and discussed prospects for further cooperation with the school’s management.

During a meeting with Vladimír Hiadlovský, Rector of Matej Bel University, the parties discussed prospects for establishing partnerships with universities in Kazakhstan. The Rector presented the university’s activities and achievements, noting that 61 students from Kazakhstan are currently enrolled, and highlighted its international cooperation, including academic mobility programs for teachers and students. Mr. Hiadlovský expressed interest in visiting Kazakhstan to explore the potential of its higher education institutions and to expand academic cooperation.

At the conclusion of the visit, embassy staff laid flowers at the military memorial cemetery in Zvolen in memory of Red Army soldiers who fell during the Banská Bystrica offensive operation (March 10–30, 1945) during the Second World War.

For reference: At the Central Military Memorial Cemetery in Zvolen, 17,280 Red Army soldiers and officers are buried in 320 individual and 18 mass graves. The cemetery was opened in 1946 and is a state-protected cultural monument. 

Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/mfa-bratislava/press/news/details/1188963?lang=kk