Slovak MEP in Moscow Apologises for Russophobia

Ľuboš Blaha, a Slovak MEP from the governing coalition’s Smer party, visited Moscow, where he apologised for Russophobia in the West.

Ľuboš Blaha posted about his journey to his party’s Facebook page.

“Ľuboš Blaha: GREETINGS FROM MOSCOW, FRIENDS ❤️ Russia is still beautiful, still wise, still advanced… And I came to thank you for freedom from fascism. And to apologise for Russophobia in the West ✊ Slovakia wants peace ❤️”

A video circulating on social media depicts Blaha visiting Red Square, praising the so-called Slavic brotherhood and other pro-Russian propaganda myths.

Blaha, who was elected to the European Parliament in June, has expressed his opposition to the West imposing sanctions on Russia and providing extra military aid to Kyiv in reaction to Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.

Blaha mirrored Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, who used a similar language while pledging to prevent Ukraine from joining NATO, saying, “We will remind ourselves of the historical truth: fascism and war come from the West; freedom and peace come from the East.”

Nevertheless, the internal structures of Smer-SD seem to be ambiguous in their posture on the Russian Federation and its aggression in Ukraine. For example, the European Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič, who was nominated in 2019 by the Robert Fico administration for the current term of office, expressed a different opinion.

Šefčovič asserted that Ukrainians are the ones who most desire peace in his address to Orbán. He then quoted Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, who emphasised the importance of a fair and enduring peace. According to Šefčovič, the territorial integrity and integrity of Ukraine should also be respected by the peace agreement.

Martin Hojsík, the Vice President of the European Parliament from the opposition party Progressive Slovakia, shared his dissatisfaction with Blaha’s visit to Moscow, commenting on X (formerly Twitter). 

“I wouldn’t be surprised if a specific Member of the European Parliament’s visit to Moscow involved delivering a letter in the restrooms.”

This was a reference to the so-called “letter of invitation,” in which communist leaders in Czechoslovakia asked the Soviet Union to help them put down the Prague Spring protests. This letter was used as an excuse for the invasion in 1968. Leonid Brezhnev, who was the leader of the Soviet Union at the time, is said to have handed the letter in the bathroom.