Huge turnout in nationwide rallies as Fico brandishes intel report alleging ‘coup d’etat’ in league with foreigners.
Tens of 1000’s of individuals protested throughout Slovakia amid rising anger over Prime Minister Robert Fico’s obvious push for nearer ties with Russia.
Friday’s rallies, which noticed as much as 60,000 folks gathering in Bratislava, marked the most recent present of public anger in opposition to Fico whose go to to Moscow for talks with President Vladimir Putin final month prompted a sequence of protests.
Civic group Mier Ukrajine – “Peace for Ukraine” – stated it known as the rallies in defence of “democracy”, following the prime minister’s remarks on switching Slovakia’s international coverage and leaving the European Union and NATO.
“We don’t need to be with Russia … We need to be within the European Union, we need to be NATO and we need to keep that method,” protester Frantisek Valach stated in Bratislava.
On Friday, tensions escalated after the prime minister’s left-wing nationalist authorities accused organisers and political opponents of trying a “coup d’etat” in league with an unspecified group of foreigners.
Fico, who was wounded in an assault by a gunman final yr, alleged {that a} group of unidentified consultants current in Slovakia had assisted protests in Ukraine in 2014 and Georgia final yr, linking his claims to a secret report from the nation’s intelligence providers, referred to as SIS.
He didn’t current particular proof however publicly stated the opposition deliberate to occupy authorities buildings, block roads, organise a nationwide strike and provoke clashes with police forces as a part of plans to overthrow his authorities.
Opposition events have sought a no-confidence vote in opposition to Fico’s authorities, however Fico has to this point appeared set to outlive the vote as he maintains a skinny majority.
Friday’s protests neared ranges seen in 2018 when the homicide of Jan Kuciak, a journalist investigating high-level corruption, pressured Fico’s resignation.
Fico’s non-public journey to Moscow in December noticed him maintain talks with Putin, a uncommon encounter for an EU chief since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022.
He has been in open dispute with Ukraine after Kyiv halted the transit of Russian gasoline provides heading to Slovakia on January 1, and has threatened to finish humanitarian support in retaliation.
“Mr Fico could be very aggressive and that disturbs me. He has misplaced all sense and will give up public life,” stated Jozef Betak, a 49-year-old telecoms specialist, on the protest. “We are able to’t keep silent, in any other case nothing will change.”
