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Slovak Serving in French Foreign Legion Dies in Afghanistan
Monday 12 April 2010 Zoom in | Print page
Bratislava, April 12 (TASR) - Twenty three-year-old corporal Robert Hutnik, from Stara Lubovna (Presov region), who died last week in Afghanistan wasn't a member of the Slovak Armed Forces but of the French Foreign Legion, according to a Pravda daily report on Monday.
Spokesman of the Armed Forces Milan Vanga confirmed for TASR on the same day that all members of the Slovak contingent within the ISAF mission are alive and well.
Meanwhile, Hutnik's death was confirmed by France's Defence Ministry and President Nicolas Sarkozy's office. The young soldier, who served as a driver of armoured vehicle, died at a military hospital in Kabul after being transported by helicopter from the Tagab Valley, 200 kilometres north of Kabul, where he was shot and wounded by Afghan resurgents.
Hutnik, who was unmarried and childless, was deployed to Afghanistan in January, after being active in a mission in Gabon.
Slovaks who serve in foreign military without the consent of the president may face up to eight years in prison.
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