100 thousand Slovaks protested against PM Fico’s pro-Russian stance

A series of protests, “Slovakia is Europe,” took place in almost 30 cities of the country, with about 100,000 people gathered throughout Slovakia.

Aktuality reported that on January 24, Slovaks took to the streets in almost 30 Slovak cities under the slogan “Slovakia is Europe” against the policy of the government of Robert Fico on rapprochement with Russia. Rallies were also held in Poland, Germany, the Czech Republic, and Ireland.

About 100,000 people gathered across Slovakia. According to the organizers, the rallies were peaceful and without disturbances.

In the Slovak capital Bratislava alone, the organizers estimated that up to 60,000 people gathered.

The Dennik N outlet wrote that more than 10 thousand people gathered in Banska Bystrica, about 5 thousand in Trencin and Žilina, about 4 thousand in Poprad and Nitra, and about a thousand fewer people demonstrated in Trnava.

Earlier this week, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico claimed that a “coup d’état” was being prepared in the country with the participation of the opposition, non-governmental organizations, the media, and a “secret group of experts” from abroad.

The Slovak opposition, which is trying to pass a vote of no confidence in Fico’s government, rejects these claims and says they are just a tactic to intimidate people.

Commenting on the mass protests against his government’s policies, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said that the organizers of the rallies were deceiving the participants and that a third of those taking part in them were allegedly Ukrainians.

Fico also said that he would not resign, despite the demand of tens of thousands of people at protests across Slovakia. He stated that the government can be replaced only after the parliamentary elections.

The Slovak government’s head repeatedly stated that the organizers had deceived the protestors. He stated that it is “a pure lie that his government wants to leave the EU.”

Slovaks are angered by Fico’s pro-Kremlin moves following his visit to Moscow to talk with Russian ruler Putin and his verbal attacks against Ukraine’s leadership over the expired deal on Russian gas transfer through Ukraine’s territory to Slovakia.