This article was originally published in English
The protests began in December, after Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow.
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A mass demonstration against Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico took place on Friday in the capital Bratislava, a continuation of last week’s protests. The participants oppose the Slovak leader’s pro-Moscow stance and his recent meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
They also criticize the threats made last week by Robert Fico of cut financial aid for more than 130,000 Ukrainian refugees living in the country, following Ukraine’s decision tointerrupt the delivery of Russian gas to Slovakia via its territory.
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Thousands of people gathered waving flags of the European Union and Slovakia, as well as various placards, some of which read “I’m going to Moscow” et “We want to live in a free country”.
Local media reported that protesters also chanted “Fico resigns”, “Fico’s Assez” et “Shame on the government”.
The meeting between Robert Fico and Vladimir Putin on December 22 in Moscow, during which they discussed gas supplies and other issues, also focused on Slovakia’s proposal to serve as a neutral mediation venue for Ukraine peace talks.
The Slovak prime minister became the third European leader to visit Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin since the launch of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, after the former Austrian chancellor Karl Nehammer and the Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.
