Thousands of people took to the streets of Slovakia’s capital, Bratislava, on Tuesday to show support for Ukraine and protest against the Slovak government, which critics say has veered too close to Russia.
Prime Minister Robert Fico’s government has raised alarm among critics since taking power last October, with its strong criticism of Europe’s military aid to Ukraine and its push to renew Russian ties both culturally and politically.
The latest instance came this month when Slovakia’s Foreign Minister, Juraj Blanár, held talks with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov—a rare high-level encounter between a European Union member state and a country the EU has sought to isolate.
“I don’t like the direction our prime minister is taking after the elections. I am disappointed. We are part of the West,” said Roman, a 45-year-old IT professional.
People spoke from a podium where a sign calling Russia a “terrorist state” hung alongside Slovak, Ukrainian, European Union, and NATO flags. Organizers estimated that 5,000 people turned out, according to the news website Dennik N.
He has defended his government’s “balanced and sovereign” foreign policy, and has said there is no military solution to the conflict in Ukraine, which continues more than two years after Russia's invasion.
Fico has rejected aiding Ukraine with weapons—except for commercial supplies—arguing it would only prolong the fighting. Ukraine’s Western allies have dismissed that argument, saying halting aid would simply lead to Ukraine’s defeat rather than negotiations.
Foreign Minister Blanár has also defended his March 2 meeting with Lavrov—which he said came at the request of the Russian side—by saying a diplomatic solution was needed.
Fico has spoken against sanctions on Russia but has so far stopped short of blocking EU measures or financial aid for Ukraine.
The latest instance came this month when Slovakia’s Foreign Minister, Juraj Blanár, held talks with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov—a rare high-level encounter between a European Union member state and a country the EU has sought to isolate.
“I don’t like the direction our prime minister is taking after the elections. I am disappointed. We are part of the West,” said Roman, a 45-year-old IT professional.
People spoke from a podium where a sign calling Russia a “terrorist state” hung alongside Slovak, Ukrainian, European Union, and NATO flags. Organizers estimated that 5,000 people turned out, according to the news website Dennik N.
Fico has faced regular opposition-led protests against his policies, mainly an overhaul of criminal codes that critics say weaken the fight against corruption, but this was the first directed at his foreign policy.🇸🇰 Anti-government protests resumed in Slovakia.
— Tomáš Zeman🇸🇰🇨🇿🇵🇱🇪🇺🇺🇦🇩🇪🇺🇸 (@zemantomas) March 15, 2024
More than 15 000 people joined them in Bratislava. https://t.co/dwl9qa7LLc pic.twitter.com/03r5JOQHjH
He has defended his government’s “balanced and sovereign” foreign policy, and has said there is no military solution to the conflict in Ukraine, which continues more than two years after Russia's invasion.
Fico has rejected aiding Ukraine with weapons—except for commercial supplies—arguing it would only prolong the fighting. Ukraine’s Western allies have dismissed that argument, saying halting aid would simply lead to Ukraine’s defeat rather than negotiations.
Foreign Minister Blanár has also defended his March 2 meeting with Lavrov—which he said came at the request of the Russian side—by saying a diplomatic solution was needed.
Fico has spoken against sanctions on Russia but has so far stopped short of blocking EU measures or financial aid for Ukraine.
Source: Reuters, TVP World
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