R 140950Z JAN 09
FM AMEMBASSY BRATISLAVA
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 2235

UNCLAS BRATISLAVA 000025 
 
 
DS/DSS/OSAC-SCHWABE AND DS/IP/EUR 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ASEC KSAC
SUBJECT: BRATISLAVA - ANNUAL OSAC CRIME / SAFETY REPORT 
 
REF: STATE 132056 
 
¶1. Overall Crime and Safety Situation: 
 
The Slovak Republic has a medium rate of crime.  Although 
violent crime is not unheard of, it is relatively uncommon. 
Visitors are urged to exercise precautions practiced in any 
large city such as using the Buddy System; instead of walking 
alone at night, take somebody with you and keep to well-lit, 
populous areas if possible.  It is also good practice to pay 
attention to your personal belongings, as all are popular 
targets of the local thieves.  The local pickpockets are 
professional and most active during the summer months.  They 
tend to utilize distraction techniques to confuse their 
target, preferring locations such as shopping centers, bus 
stops, markets and public transportation in the vicinity of 
"Old Town" or near major hotels where foreigners stay, and 
near tourist sites or on the night trains to Prague and 
Warsaw.  Power struggles within the organized crime 
syndicates, which can be violent, occur from time to time 
mostly outside of Old Town Bratislava.  This activity is not 
directed against Americans or other foreigners.  The rate of 
auto theft, which is also connected to organized crime, is 
very high in Bratislava.  High-end European and American cars 
are preferred targets of theft.  The use of alarm systems or 
anti-theft devices is strongly recommended. 
 
¶2. Political Violence: 
 
The threat of political violence directed against American 
citizens is low.  Public demonstrations in Slovakia are not 
uncommon, but are peaceful.  Demonstrations must be 
pre-approved by the city and are generally small, numbering 
less than 100 participants.  The threat of terrorism in 
Slovakia directed against American citizens generally would 
be considered low as well.  However, U.S. citizens and U.S. 
interests abroad remain at risk of terrorist attacks, 
including by groups with links to Al-Qaida.  These 
individuals do not distinguish between official and civilian 
targets.  Americans visiting the Slovak Republic are urged to 
abide by local laws and monitor the local news. 
 
¶3. Post-Specific Concerns: 
 
The Slovak Republic is generally considered to be a 
relatively safe place to live.  However, one security concern 
relates to the 'Skinhead' elements that are present in the 
country.  Although they do not specifically target American 
citizens, any non-Caucasian individual is considered to be an 
unwelcome foreigner.  Skinheads tend to target members of the 
"Roma" (Gypsy) minority, but have been known to attack other 
non-Caucasian persons as well.  Laws have been enacted to 
fight the racially motivated attacks that include stiffer 
penalties than the "normal" assault statutes, but it is a 
crime that is difficult to prove.  Therefore, it is not 
uncommon for the prosecutors to charge the offenders under 
the more easily proved simple assault statutes to increase 
the chance of a successful prosecution; the perpetrator thus 
avoids the heavier penalty carried by the hate-crime statutes. 
 
¶4. Police Response: 
 
Many elements of the police are considered by the public to 
be corrupt.  As such, their image in the public is tarnished. 
The current government has identified this as a serious 
issue and continues to take steps to combat corruption.  One 
example pertains to the issuance of traffic citations.  In 
the past, traffic police were authorized to collect fines, 
payable in cash, resulting from routine traffic violations 
such as speeding.  The current procedure now require traffic 
cops to issue a citation to the suspected offender, which is 
payable at a later date.  Still, police corruption for 
traffic cops, especially for Slovak citizens, remains a 
problem.  According to a RSO source, Slovaks are encouraged 
to pay bribes at the police station - directly to a police 
officer - in exchange for lighter penalties.  A bottle of 
American brand whiskey or perhaps 200 Euro could determine 
whether an offender is charged with Driving Under the 
Influence and loss of a driver's license for six months, or 
avoid the DUI charge and receive only a temporary suspension 
of their driver's license.  From a street-crime standpoint, 
the Slovak police are poorly trained and fairly 
unprofessional.  They do not have the skills to effectively 
investigate a crime, preserve a crime scene, conduct 
interviews, or gather evidence. 
 
As with any police department there are professional elements 
whose desire is to get the job done right, but who are not 
provided the correct amount of funding, training or other 
resources to accomplish their assigned tasks.  Their 
responsiveness to a criminal incident will therefore depend 
on the type and severity of the crime involved, and likely, 
the social status of the complainant.  Many foreigners who 
have been the victim of crime will find their interactions 
with the police to be somewhat frustrating due to the 
language barrier; few police officers speak English. 
However, the police do make an effort to staff their 24-hour 
emergency numbers with individuals who have some 
English-speaking capabilities.  The police can call 
interpreters, when needed.  The emergency numbers are listed 
below: 
 
Police (Emergency): 158 
Police (Non-Emergency): 09610-1111 
Fire: 150 
Ambulance: 155 
 
¶5. Medical Emergencies: 
 
Medical facilities and services are extremely limited 
throughout the Slovak Republic and do not present the 
appearance nor services that one would expect of a U.S. 
hospital.  Generally, unless it is a life-threatening 
condition requiring immediate medical attention, Embassy 
staff will use medical facilities in Vienna or elsewhere in 
Austria.  In the event of a medical emergency requiring 
immediate care, the Embassy has contracted with a local 
English-speaking doctor to provide medical advice to Embassy 
personnel as well as act an "expediter" through the Slovak 
medical system.  It is worth noting that hospitals in Austria 
tend not to release the patient as quickly as hospitals in 
the United States.  Matters considered by some Americans as 
"routine" may require an overnight stay or perhaps a few days 
in the hospital.  Listed below are some useful contact 
numbers: 
 
NAME  Dr. Capova 
TYPE  Medical 
ADDRESS     Krajinsk 91 
      Pavilion G, Door 310 
      Podunajske Biskupice 
TELEPHONE   4025-1235 or 09034-637-836 
 
 
NAME  Dr. Kostolanska 
TYPE  Medical 
ADDRESS     Krasna Horka Hospital 
      Dumbierska 3 
      Pavilion C, First Floor 
TELEPHONE   5954-2754 or 0903-263-913 
 
 
NAME  Dr. Ingrid Lehotska 
TYPE  Dentist 
ADDRESS     Mierova 52A 
      Bratislava, Slovakia 
TELEPHONE   4342-6984 or 4342-7017 
 
 
NAME  Dr. Adriena Nemcova 
TYPE  Dentist 
ADDRESS     Drienova 16 
      Bratislava, Slovakia 
TELEPHONE   4333-5703 
 
 
Bratislava City Ambulance 
155 
 
Kramare Hospital 
Limbova 5 
833 05 Bratislava 
5954-1111 or 5477-2163 or 5477-3466 
 
Hainburg Hospital 
Hainburg, Austria 
0043-21-6590-5010 
 
¶6. Tips on how to avoid becoming a victim: 
 
The crimes most reported to the Regional Security Officer 
involve petty theft (purse-snatching, cellular telephone 
grabbing, pick-pocketing).  The individuals most often 
targeted for these types of crimes are newly-arrived 
personnel and tourists who are unfamiliar with the local 
environment and do not pay attention to their surroundings. 
A traveler can minimize the chances of becoming a victim by 
taking the basic, yet necessary personal security precautions 
one would take in any congested urban environment, including 
increasing awareness of one's surroundings and properly 
securing valuables on his person or in a hotel room. 
 
Most reports are generated in "Old Town" Bratislava, the 
historic district that is lined with cobblestone streets and 
numerous outdoor cafes.  The congregation of tourists in this 
area leads to the influx of criminal elements eager to rid a 
visitor of his valuables.  Travelers should minimize the 
amount of valuables and money they carry on their person. 
 
Automobile theft is a common occurrence in the Slovak 
Republic.  Many stolen vehicles are quickly transported out 
of the country for resale in neighboring countries. 
Preferred targets for the auto thief are up-market European 
and American cars.  The use of an alarm system or anti-theft 
device is strongly encouraged. 
 
The security guard company sector is a growth industry in 
Slovakia.  However, many of these companies have ties to 
organized crime.  As with any business venture, care should 
be taken to choose a reputable company when selecting a 
security service. 
 
¶7. For further information: 
 
All numbers should be proceeded by the country code (421) and 
city code (2). 
 
AMERICAN EMBASSY: 5443-0861 or 5443-3338 
DUTY OFFICER: 0903-703-666 (From outside Slovakia, call 
421-903-703-666) 
CONSULAR SECTION: 5922-3299 
FOREIGN COMMERCIAL SECTION: 5920-5311 
REGIONAL SECURITY OFFICER:    5922-3051 
MARINE SECURITY GUARD: 5922-3393 
 
 
OBSITNIK