Protests in Slovakia against Robert Fico’s pro-Russian picies

This was reported by Reuters, as cited by Ukrinform.

Protesters gathered not only in Bratislava but also in other cities to pose the government’s push for closer ties with Russia, despite its ongoing invasion of Ukraine.

According to organizers, approximately 15,000 pele gathered in Bratislava’s central square.“Slovakia is Eure, we are not Russia,” declared one organizer, waving Slovak and EU flags. Other demonstrators held signs saying “Slovakia stands with Ukraine,” while chanting “Enough of Russia!” “Shame!” and “We are ashamed of Fico.”

The Slovak initiative Peace for Ukraine announced on Facebook that it organized the protests under the slogan “Slovakia is Eure” to emphasize that Slovakia is “not Russia, but a sovereign democratic country,” according to Euractiv.

Local media reported demonstrations in about ten Slovak cities.

Read also: End of Russian gas transit: EU Energy Commissioner meets with Slovakia’s Fico in Brussels

Co-organizer Lucia Stasselová criticized the government for “dragging Slovakia into Russia’s sphere of influence and trying to sever our ties with our alliances preferring good relations with Russia.”

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico is one of the few Kremlin allies within the Eurean Union. Since returning to power in 2023, he has brought Slovakia closer to Moscow. On Friday, Fico td parliament that Russian dictator Vladimir Putin, whom he met recently, guaranteed stable gas supplies for Slovakia and described Moscow as a reliable supplier.

Fico had met Putin in Moscow on December 22, marking the third visit by an EU head of government since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Read also: Thousands protest in Slovakia against Fico, government’s pro-Russian course

As previously reported by Ukrinform, on January 2, Fico stated that Slovakia’s government would discuss retaliatory measures against Ukraine after it stped the transit of Russian gas through its territory to Slovakia.

On December 19, President Vodymyr Zelensky said that Ukraine is ready to transit gas to Eurean countries as long as it is not of Russian origin.