Slovaks protested against Fico’s pro-Russian policies

“We are not a Russian rag”: in Slovakia, thousands of people came out to protest over Fico’s policies. The posters brought to the demonstration read, “Fico, go to Moscow; leave Slovakia alone.”

The Slovak capital hosted a rally against Prime Minister Robert Fico’s pro-Russian policies and in favor of supporting Ukraine. Slovak protesters recalled the Soviet troops’ entry into Czechoslovakia in 1968.

About four thousand people came out to the Slovak government building in Bratislava to rally in support of Ukraine and against the pro-Russian policy of Prime Minister Robert Fico, Slovak news portal Aktuality reported.

About 4,000 people took to the streets to express their discontent. Placards brought to the demonstration read, “Fitzo, go to Moscow; leave Slovakia alone.”

The civic association “Peace to Ukraine,” which raises funds for ammunition for the Ukrainian Army, organized the action. The demonstrators carried flags of Slovakia and the European Union.

They played the EU anthem “Ode to Joy” from Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony. Among the slogans were: “Slovakia is Europe! The slogans included “We are fed up with Russia!”, “Fico, move to Moscow!”, “Treason against the motherland!”, and “We are not a Russian rag.”

At the event, the protesters waved not only the flag of the Slovak Republic but also the flag of the European Union. The European anthem was also played, with organizers emphasizing that “this is our anthem.”

Opposition politician Lucia Štasselová, who spoke from the stage, recalled the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968. “I will not allow this country to fall under Russia’s political influence,” she said.

During the action, artist Rudolf Sikora emphasized the need for the public sector to join forces with the opposition.

“I beg you, opposition politicians, pull yourselves together,” he emphasized, noting that it is necessary to unite against evil.

Slovakian PM Robert Fico threatened to reduce support for Ukrainian refugees on January 2, due to Ukraine’s decision not to renew an agreement with Gazprom to supply Russian gas through Ukraine to Slovakia. The politician called it “sabotage” on the part of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Ukraine’s reasoning is that Russian gas supplies help finance the all-out war that Moscow has been waging against Ukraine since February 2022.

On December 22, on the eve of the transit halt, Fico visited the Kremlin and discussed gas supplies with the Russian ruler Vladimir Putin. It was the first face-to-face talk between the politicians in eight years, and also since the start of Russia’s all-out war.