On September 10, 2026, IVO President Grigorij Mesežnikov discussed the state of democracy in Slovakia with citizens of municipality Raslavice. The discussion took place in the local synagogue, which—following its renovation—now serves the public as a cultural venue. 



At the beginning of the discussion, he addressed the internal and external factors that both strengthen or weaken democracy. He outlined the approaches that public officials and societal institutions should adopt to foster democracy in our country and defend it against various risks. He underscored the strategic importance of Slovakia’s cooperation with partners and allies in the EU and NATO for the future of the democratic system and the Slovak Republic’s belonging to the West. 



The discussion was organized by the Raslavice Civic Initiative; it was introduced and subsequently moderated by Jozef Jarina.