Protests in Slovakia against closer relations with Russia

2025-01-10 21:55:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

Protesters gathered in Bratislava and other Slovak cities on January 10 to protest the government's efforts to seek closer relations with Russia, despite Moscow's 2022 unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.

Slovak nationalist Prime Minister Robert Fico is one of the Kremlin's few allies within the European Union, which has brought Bratislava closer to Moscow since returning to power in 2023.

He recently traveled to Moscow to secure gas supplies for consumption in his country after Ukraine decided to stop the flow of Russian gas through its territory to Europe.

Thousands protested in the center of Bratislava chanting "We are Europe", "Shame on Fico" and "We will not give up Slovakia".

The Initiative for Peace in Ukraine wrote on Facebook that it has organized the "Slovakia is Europe" rallies to show that Slovakia "is not Russia, but a sovereign and democratic state."

The media reported that protests were held in dozens of Slovak cities.

Until the peaceful split in 1993, Slovakia and the Czech Republic were part of Czechoslovakia, which had been under a totalitarian communist government led by Moscow for four decades from 1948-1989.

Fico told Parliament on Friday that Russian President Vladimir Putin, whom he has met, has guaranteed gas supplies to Slovakia. He described Moscow as a reliable supplier.

Europe is still supplied with Russian gas through the Turkish Stream pipeline, but it is also supplied with liquid natural gas transported via ships.

Fico cut military aid to Ukraine when he took office in October 2023.

In response to Ukraine's decision to cut off gas supplies, Fico has threatened to cut off electricity supplies and humanitarian aid to Ukraine.

He said Slovakia may reduce aid to Ukrainian war refugees in the country.

Fico said Slovakia is ready to host peace talks with Russia and Ukraine. Kiev said such a thing would work in Putin's favor.

The Russian leader has said that for him it is acceptable for Slovakia, a NATO member state, to become a "platform" for dialogue to end the conflict.

The US president-elect, Donald Trump, has said that he will quickly end the war after taking office on January 20./REL