A Slovak schoolboy refused to shake President Peter Pellegrini's hand because he disagreed with his political position, particularly on Ukraine.

As of Diary N, the incident occurred on January 13 during an event at the Presidential Palace, where schoolchildren who won medals at international Olympiads were awarded.
Among the awardees was Simon Omanik, who came with a yellow-and-blue ribbon on his jacket. After shaking hands with Education Minister Tomasz Drucker, he demonstratively refused to shake hands with the president.
In a comment to Denník N, the young man explained his action: "I categorically disagree with the president and consider him a fraud and a liar. He speculated on people's fears, spread anti-Ukrainian sentiments, and lied about the war."
Pellegrini commented on the situation, noting that he respects this, although, in his opinion, upbringing involves a willingness to lend a hand even to opponents.
Slovak student Simon Omanik, who won a bronze medal at the Mathematical Olympiad, refused to shake the hand of the pro-Russian president of Slovakia, Peter Pellegrini
A tymczasem słowacka opozyka zjednoczyła się iw złożyj dnienie złoży wniosek o wotum nieufności wobec… pic.twitter.com/azwE3XtdQQ
— Zespół Brauna (@ZespolBrauna) January 14, 2025