Thousands in Slovakia protest against what they say is PM Fico’s pro-Russia stance

Huge crowds have gathered in dozens of cities and towns across Slovakia to mount vocal protests against what they say are the pro-Russian policies of Prime Minister Robert Fico.

The latest wave of anti-government rallies was fuelled by Fico’s recent trip to Moscow for talks with President Vladimir Putin, a rare visit to the Kremlin by a European Union leader since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Fico’s recent remarks that Slovakia’s foreign policy orientation could involve leaving the European Union and NATO contributed to the anger of protesters.

“Slovakia is Europe,” the protesters in Bratislava chanted.

“I came to this protest to express my disagreement with our government’s policies and actions. I don’t think the government has been given a mandate to do what it is doing. That’s why I want to make my civil statement. That’s why I’m here,” said one of the protesters, Marcela Slimakova.

The latest rallies took place in 41 locations in Slovakia, up from 28 two weeks ago.

Protest organisers say rallies also took place in 13 cities abroad.

“Personally, I don’t believe the protest will change anything, but at least it will bring those people together to make a difference in an election,” said Matej Děbnar, one of the protesters at the Bratislava rally.

Friday’s protests were the biggest since major street rallies in 2018 prompted by the killing of an investigative reporter and his fiancée.

The ensuing political crisis led to the collapse of Fico’s previous government.

Fico, who survived an assassination attempt in May 2024, is a divisive figure in Slovakia and has escalated tensions by accusing protest organisers of being in contact with foreigners who organised recent anti-government protests in Georgia.

He claims the are working towards engineering a coup in Slovakia.

Government officials have failed to provide evidence for the claim, which has been dismissed by the Peace for Ukraine organisation.

Fico’s views on Russia have largely differed from the European mainstream.

He returned to power last year after his leftist party Smer (Direction) won the parliamentary election on a pro-Russia and anti-America platform

He has since ended Slovakia’s military aid for Ukraine, criticised European Union sanctions on Russia and vowed to block Ukraine from joining NATO.

He also declared Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy an enemy after Kyiv halted Russian gas supplies to Slovakia and other European countries.