Huge crowds gathered in dozens of cities in Slovakia last night to protest the policies of Prime Minister Robert Fico, The Associated Press reported, quoted by FOKUS.
The latest wave of anti-government rallies was fueled by Fico's recent trip to Moscow for talks with President Vladimir Putin.
Fico's recent remarks that Slovakia's foreign policy orientation could include leaving the European Union and NATO contributed to the protesters' anger, AP writes.
"Resign, resign" was the clear message to the prime minister. "Slovakia is Europe," they chanted.
The latest rallies were held in 41 locations across the country. They were the largest demonstrations since major street protests in 2018 sparked by the murders of an investigative reporter and his fiancée. The ensuing political crisis led to the fall of Fico's previous government.
Fico, who survived an assassination attempt in May 2024, has escalated tensions in the country by accusing protest organizers of being in contact with foreigners who had organized recent anti-government protests in Georgia and are under the control of Ukrainian authorities, who he says are working to stage a coup in Slovakia. Government officials have not provided evidence for the claim, which was rejected by the Peace for Ukraine organization.
Fico has cut off Slovakia's military aid to Ukraine, criticized European Union sanctions against Russia and vowed to block Ukraine's accession to NATO. He has declared Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky an "enemy" after Ukraine cut off Russian gas supplies to Slovakia and some other European customers.