Slovakia's PM threatens expulsions from country after protests
DPA
Sat, January 25, 2025
People gather at Freedom square as nationwide protests continue against Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico's government. Šálek Václav/CTK/dpa
Prime Minister Robert Fico on Saturday accused foreign countries of meddling in Slovakia's internal affairs and threatened to expel people from the country, a day after huge protests against his government.
"Our opposition members are only altar boys - someone else is celebrating the Mass," said the populist left-wing politician on public broadcaster STVR.
Fico directed his criticism at non-governmental organizations (NGOs), which he believes are supported by foreign financiers. He claimed there are "instructors" from abroad a working to undermine the state.
Fico, who survived an assassination attempt in May, threatened countermeasures: "It is the task of the intelligence services to compile a list of people to be expelled from the country."
On Friday evening, tens of thousands of people took to the streets in almost 30 cities to demand Fico's resignation. They accused Fico of being pro-Russia and putting Slovakia on an increasingly authoritarian path.
Fico accuses his opponents of spreading falsehoods about an alleged shift in Slovakia's foreign policy toward Moscow in order to discredit his government.
"This government will never take any steps that could cast doubt on our membership in the European Union and NATO," he said on Thursday.
But Fico has stopped supplying weapons from Slovakian military stocks to Ukraine and frequently criticizes EU sanctions. He believes the sanctions are hurting Slovakia, which is dependent on Russian gas and oil, more than Moscow.
The anger of critics intensified in late December, when he made a surprise visit to see Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. The trip was also not well received by Brussels and other allies of Ukraine.
Fico said the trip centred on supplies of Russian gas to Slovakia. He also floated the idea that his country could host peace talks between Russia and Ukraine.
The demonstrators out on the streets on Friday evening were also fuelled by Fico's allegation this week that his opponents were plotting a coup, citing a report by the SIS domestic intelligence agency.
Fico said the agency uncovered "structures with links to foreign countries and to the Slovak opposition," whom he said want to provoke riots and see government buildings occupied.
The opposition accused him of trying to stoke panic to distract from the failure of his government's policies and improve his standing.
People gather at Freedom square as nationwide protests continue against Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico's government. Šálek Václav/CTK/dpa
People gather at Freedom square as nationwide protests continue against Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico's government. Jaroslav Novák/TASR/dpa
People gather at Freedom square as nationwide protests continue against Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico's government. Šálek Václav/CTK/dp
Slovak protests grow in rebuke of PM Fico's Russian tilt
Demonstrators attend an anti-government protest in Bratislava
By Radovan Stoklasa
Fri, January 24, 2025
BRATISLAVA (Reuters) -Tens of thousands of protesters thronged a central square in the Slovak capital on Friday, waving banners opposing Prime Minister Robert Fico's policy shift closer to Russia, after tensions between the government and the opposition rose.
Organisers estimated 60,000 people attended the demonstration in Bratislava's Freedom Square, about four times more than in the last demonstration two weeks ago.
The protests were nearing levels seen in 2018 when the murder of an investigative journalist caused mass demonstrations and forced Fico's resignation. Fico won reelection as prime minister in 2023.
Protesters shouted "Enough of Fico" and "We are Europe" and at one point lit up the square with their mobile phones after a brief power outage.
Rallies were also held in 20 other cities, with news website Dennik N estimating at least 100,000 protested across the central European country.
Tensions have built this week, after Fico's leftist-nationalist government attacked his progressive opponents, accusing them of attempting to cause chaos.
The government plans new preventive measures amid what Fico said were plans to escalate protests into attempts at illegally overthrowing the government, including by occupying state buildings.
Citing information from intelligence services, Fico has alleged, without showing evidence, there was a group of unidentified experts in Slovakia that had helped in protests against a pro-Russian leader in Ukraine in 2014 and Georgia last year.
Opposition political parties and civic groups organising the protests have rejected the accusations, saying they are meant to deflect attention from policy problems that the fragile government coalition is failing to tackle.
Opposition parties have sought a no-confidence vote against Fico's government, but Fico has so far looked set to survive the vote as he maintains a thin majority.
Fico, since his return as prime minister for a fourth time in 2023, has sparked worries among critics that his government is weakening democratic values and shifting foreign policy away from European Union and NATO allies and closer to Russia.
"We do not want to be with Russia... We want to be in the European Union, we want to be NATO and we want to stay that way," protester Frantisek Valach said in Bratislava.
FICO'S TALKS IN MOSCOW
The latest round of protests come after Fico privately travelled to Moscow in December to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin, a rare encounter for an EU leader since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022.
Marian Kulich from civic group Mier Ukrajine (Peace to Ukraine), which organised the protests, said the aim was to "create pressure so that this government actually changes its direction towards Moscow and focuses" on EU and NATO partners.
Fico became increasingly anti-liberal after 2018. In May last year, a lone gunman shot and wounded Fico, protesting against his policies, and Fico has stepped up attacks against the opposition since then.
He has also been in open dispute with Ukraine after Kyiv halted the transit of Russian gas supplies heading to Slovakia on Jan. 1, and he has threatened to end humanitarian aid in retaliation.
His government ended state military aid to Kyiv after taking office, and domestically it has also revamped the public broadcaster despite media freedom concerns and softened prosecution of economic crimes, drawing protests last year.
Fico has defended his government's foreign policy saying it worked in all directions, and while critical of some EU policies, he has said policy was still determined by EU and NATO membership.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy offered his support to the Slovak protesters, posting a picture of the demonstration on X with a comment, in Slovak: "Bratislava is not Moscow. Slovakia is Europe."
(Reporting by Radovan Stoklasa in Bratislava and Jason Hovet in Prague; Editing by Sharon Singleton, Leslie Adler, Ron Popeski and Diane Craft)
BRATISLAVA (Reuters) -Tens of thousands of protesters thronged a central square in the Slovak capital on Friday, waving banners opposing Prime Minister Robert Fico's policy shift closer to Russia, after tensions between the government and the opposition rose.
Organisers estimated 60,000 people attended the demonstration in Bratislava's Freedom Square, about four times more than in the last demonstration two weeks ago.
The protests were nearing levels seen in 2018 when the murder of an investigative journalist caused mass demonstrations and forced Fico's resignation. Fico won reelection as prime minister in 2023.
Protesters shouted "Enough of Fico" and "We are Europe" and at one point lit up the square with their mobile phones after a brief power outage.
Rallies were also held in 20 other cities, with news website Dennik N estimating at least 100,000 protested across the central European country.
Tensions have built this week, after Fico's leftist-nationalist government attacked his progressive opponents, accusing them of attempting to cause chaos.
The government plans new preventive measures amid what Fico said were plans to escalate protests into attempts at illegally overthrowing the government, including by occupying state buildings.
Citing information from intelligence services, Fico has alleged, without showing evidence, there was a group of unidentified experts in Slovakia that had helped in protests against a pro-Russian leader in Ukraine in 2014 and Georgia last year.
Opposition political parties and civic groups organising the protests have rejected the accusations, saying they are meant to deflect attention from policy problems that the fragile government coalition is failing to tackle.
Opposition parties have sought a no-confidence vote against Fico's government, but Fico has so far looked set to survive the vote as he maintains a thin majority.
Fico, since his return as prime minister for a fourth time in 2023, has sparked worries among critics that his government is weakening democratic values and shifting foreign policy away from European Union and NATO allies and closer to Russia.
"We do not want to be with Russia... We want to be in the European Union, we want to be NATO and we want to stay that way," protester Frantisek Valach said in Bratislava.
FICO'S TALKS IN MOSCOW
The latest round of protests come after Fico privately travelled to Moscow in December to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin, a rare encounter for an EU leader since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022.
Marian Kulich from civic group Mier Ukrajine (Peace to Ukraine), which organised the protests, said the aim was to "create pressure so that this government actually changes its direction towards Moscow and focuses" on EU and NATO partners.
Fico became increasingly anti-liberal after 2018. In May last year, a lone gunman shot and wounded Fico, protesting against his policies, and Fico has stepped up attacks against the opposition since then.
He has also been in open dispute with Ukraine after Kyiv halted the transit of Russian gas supplies heading to Slovakia on Jan. 1, and he has threatened to end humanitarian aid in retaliation.
His government ended state military aid to Kyiv after taking office, and domestically it has also revamped the public broadcaster despite media freedom concerns and softened prosecution of economic crimes, drawing protests last year.
Fico has defended his government's foreign policy saying it worked in all directions, and while critical of some EU policies, he has said policy was still determined by EU and NATO membership.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy offered his support to the Slovak protesters, posting a picture of the demonstration on X with a comment, in Slovak: "Bratislava is not Moscow. Slovakia is Europe."
(Reporting by Radovan Stoklasa in Bratislava and Jason Hovet in Prague; Editing by Sharon Singleton, Leslie Adler, Ron Popeski and Diane Craft)
Zelenskiy hosts Slovakia's opposition leader in Kyiv amid spat with PM Fico
By Yuliia Dysa
By Yuliia Dysa
January 17, 2025
(Reuters) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy discussed energy security with Slovakia's opposition leader in Kyiv on Friday, amid a row with Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico who has threatened to cut aid to Ukraine.
Fico is angry with Kyiv over its decision not to extend a deal on the transit of Russian gas supplies via Ukraine, saying the move had damaged Slovakia's economy. His leftist-nationalist coalition is looking shakier and faces a no-confidence vote.
Zelenskiy had invited Fico to visit Kyiv for talks on Friday, an invitation he alluded to as he announced his meeting with Michal Simecka, the head of Progressive Slovakia, the country's biggest opposition party.
"Friday. Expected one Slovak leader, but met another. I had a good meeting with Slovak parliamentarians, led by @MSimecka," Zelenskiy wrote on X.
"We are ready for an open and mutually beneficial dialogue on all issues, particularly in the energy sector. This dialogue must strengthen our nations — Ukraine and Slovakia — not Moscow," Zelenskiy said in his statement after meeting Simecka.
Simecka said in a separate statement that he believed Ukraine was ready to negotiate over the issue, adding: "That is exactly what I am calling on Robert Fico to do now".
Russian gas flows to Europe via Ukraine ended at the start of the year after the transit agreement between Kyiv and Moscow expired. Kyiv refused to extend the deal to reduce revenue streams supporting Russia's war in Ukraine.
The overall gas situation has remained stable in Slovakia, but Fico says the end of Russian gas supplies via Ukraine has resulted in higher gas prices and a loss of transit fees. He has insisted on the need to restore flows, something Kyiv rejects.
THREATS
Zelenskiy and Fico have since exchanged mutual accusations.
If the gas transit problem is not resolved, Fico has threatened to cut emergency electricity supplies to Ukraine, reduce aid for its refugees in Slovakia or to use its veto right on European Union decisions relating to Kyiv.
Zelenskiy has said Fico's lack of desire to reduce his country's dependence on Russian natural resources threatens both Slovakia and Europe.
On Monday, Fico proposed he and Zelenskiy meet on the Slovakian-Ukrainian border to discuss the gas situation. Zelenskiy said Fico should instead come to Kyiv for the talks.
Fico said on Thursday that he was looking for a date to meet Zelenskiy, which could happen in the "nearest days", according to Slovak media.
He did not give details, but both leaders are scheduled to attend the Davos forum in Switzerland in the coming week.
(Reporting by Yuliia Dysa, additional reporting by Jan Lopatka; Editing by Tom Balmforth and Gareth Jones)
(Reuters) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy discussed energy security with Slovakia's opposition leader in Kyiv on Friday, amid a row with Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico who has threatened to cut aid to Ukraine.
Fico is angry with Kyiv over its decision not to extend a deal on the transit of Russian gas supplies via Ukraine, saying the move had damaged Slovakia's economy. His leftist-nationalist coalition is looking shakier and faces a no-confidence vote.
Zelenskiy had invited Fico to visit Kyiv for talks on Friday, an invitation he alluded to as he announced his meeting with Michal Simecka, the head of Progressive Slovakia, the country's biggest opposition party.
"Friday. Expected one Slovak leader, but met another. I had a good meeting with Slovak parliamentarians, led by @MSimecka," Zelenskiy wrote on X.
"We are ready for an open and mutually beneficial dialogue on all issues, particularly in the energy sector. This dialogue must strengthen our nations — Ukraine and Slovakia — not Moscow," Zelenskiy said in his statement after meeting Simecka.
Simecka said in a separate statement that he believed Ukraine was ready to negotiate over the issue, adding: "That is exactly what I am calling on Robert Fico to do now".
Russian gas flows to Europe via Ukraine ended at the start of the year after the transit agreement between Kyiv and Moscow expired. Kyiv refused to extend the deal to reduce revenue streams supporting Russia's war in Ukraine.
The overall gas situation has remained stable in Slovakia, but Fico says the end of Russian gas supplies via Ukraine has resulted in higher gas prices and a loss of transit fees. He has insisted on the need to restore flows, something Kyiv rejects.
THREATS
Zelenskiy and Fico have since exchanged mutual accusations.
If the gas transit problem is not resolved, Fico has threatened to cut emergency electricity supplies to Ukraine, reduce aid for its refugees in Slovakia or to use its veto right on European Union decisions relating to Kyiv.
Zelenskiy has said Fico's lack of desire to reduce his country's dependence on Russian natural resources threatens both Slovakia and Europe.
On Monday, Fico proposed he and Zelenskiy meet on the Slovakian-Ukrainian border to discuss the gas situation. Zelenskiy said Fico should instead come to Kyiv for the talks.
Fico said on Thursday that he was looking for a date to meet Zelenskiy, which could happen in the "nearest days", according to Slovak media.
He did not give details, but both leaders are scheduled to attend the Davos forum in Switzerland in the coming week.
(Reporting by Yuliia Dysa, additional reporting by Jan Lopatka; Editing by Tom Balmforth and Gareth Jones)
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