Thousands of Slovaks gathered in protests across the country today to oppose the pro-Russian stance of populist Prime Minister Robert Fico.
The latest wave of anti-government demonstrations was triggered by Fico’s unexpected pre-Christmas visit to Moscow, where he met Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Fico’s meeting with Putin is “unacceptable,” said Lucia Štaselová, an organizer from the NGO Peace for Ukraine, addressing a crowd in Bratislava.
“He went to Moscow at a time when our neighbors are facing massive military aggression, and while the entire civilized and democratic world condemns this aggression,” Štaselová stated.
Protests also took place in more than ten locations, including Prague, Czech Republic, and Krakow, Poland, according to organizers, who pledged to continue their demonstrations.
Fico justified his visit to Russia as a response to Ukraine’s decision to halt Russian gas deliveries to European buyers through its pipeline network following the expiration of a pre-war transit agreement at the end of 2024.
While Slovakia faces no gas shortages and can source supplies from other EU countries, Fico claimed the country would lose approximately €500 million annually in transit fees.
He has threatened to cut electricity supplies to Ukraine, reduce support for Ukrainian refugees, cease humanitarian aid, and block EU financial assistance to Ukraine in retaliation.
Fico returned to power last year after his left-wing Smer party won parliamentary elections on a pro-Russian and anti-American platform. Since then, he has halted Slovakia’s military aid to Ukraine, criticized EU sanctions on Russia, and vowed to block Ukraine’s NATO membership.
