Tens of thousands of Slovakians have taken to the streets to protest against Prime Minister Robert Fico’s foreign policy, which critics claim is steering the country toward closer ties with Russia. Demonstrations were held in over 20 cities, with the largest gathering in the capital, Bratislava, where approximately 40,000 people joined, according to Dennik N. Nationwide, over 100,000 participated in the protests.
The outcry follows Fico’s controversial visit to Moscow last December, where he met Russian President Vladimir Putin on December 22. Fico is among a handful of European leaders maintaining relations with Putin despite Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine.
The Kremlin characterized Fico’s trip as a “working visit.” Spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that discussions focused on the “international situation” and potentially on Russian natural gas supplies.
Michał Šimečka, leader of the opposition Progressive Slovakia party, condemned Fico’s trip, calling it a “national disgrace and betrayal of Slovakia’s interests.”
