BRATISLAVA, Slovakia (AP) — Thousands of Slovaks gathered in protest on Friday, decrying the pro-Russia stance of populist Prime Minister Robert Fico. Demonstrations that began in the capital city of Bratislava have now spread to various towns and cities within Slovakia and beyond its borders.
The recent surge of anti-government sentiment was triggered by Fico’s unanticipated visit to Moscow prior to Christmas to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Lucia Štasselová, an organizer of the protests representing the Peace to Ukraine non-governmental organization, addressed the crowd in Bratislava, condemning Fico’s meeting with Putin as “unacceptable.” She highlighted the timing of Fico’s visit, coinciding with the ongoing military aggression faced by Slovakia’s neighboring country, Ukraine, and the global condemnation of such actions by the civilized and democratic world.
Chants of “We’re ashamed of Fico” echoed through the crowd, expressing the public’s disapproval of the prime minister’s actions. Fico defended his trip to Moscow, citing Ukraine’s decision to cease Russian gas supplies to European customers via its pipeline network following the expiration of a prewar transit agreement at the end of 2024. Despite Slovakia having alternative gas supply sources within the EU, Fico justified his visit as a response to the potential loss of approximately 500 million euros ($515 million) annually in transit fees.
In a retaliatory stance, Fico threatened to cease electricity exports to Ukraine, reduce aid for Ukrainian refugees, suspend humanitarian assistance, and block EU financial aid to Ukraine. These measures were met with strong opposition from the demonstrators, with former Foreign Minister Rastislav Káčer accusing Fico of acting as a “foreign power’s agent.”
The wave of protests extended beyond Bratislava, with rallies occurring in numerous locations, including the Czech capital Prague and Krakow, Poland. Organizers affirmed their commitment to continuing the protests against Fico’s policies.
Fico’s alignment with Russia diverges markedly from the prevailing European stance. Since his party Smer (Direction) regained power last year on a pro-Russia and anti-American platform, Fico has taken steps such as terminating Slovakia’s military support for Ukraine, criticizing EU sanctions on Russia, and opposing Ukraine’s NATO membership aspirations. Fico’s actions have sparked widespread discontent among the Slovak population, leading to substantial public demonstrations against the government’s foreign policy direction.
As the protests persist and gain momentum both domestically and internationally, the future trajectory of Slovakia’s foreign relations under Fico’s leadership remains uncertain.
