Thousands of people protested in cities across Slovakia on Friday evening against the Ukraine policy of left-wing Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico.
Protesters accused Fico of pursuing a pro-Russian course and “betraying” Western allies and neighboring Ukraine.
These rallies were initiated by the citizens’ initiative “Mier Ukraine” (Peace of Ukraine), which stands for the delivery of weapons to Kiev.
Organizers estimated that 15,000 people gathered in front of the government building in Freedom Square in the capital Bratislava alone.
Protesters carried banners with slogans such as “We want to live in a free country!” or, addressed to Fico: “You will always be a coward, a collaborator, a mafioso and a criminal in my eyes!”
The protests were sparked by Fico’s meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow just before Christmas.
Fico defended the trip to the European Affairs Committee of Parliament on Friday morning. He said that faced with Ukraine’s decision to stop the transportation of Russian gas earlier this year, he has explored other ways with Putin to present himself to the European Commission in Brussels.
Slovakia is more dependent on Russian gas than any other country in Europe.
However, the organizers of the demonstrations criticized Fico’s trip as a “subversion” to Russian interests and called on the citizens of Slovakia to protect the country from its government.
If the government does not change its course, the program plans to call another demonstration on January 24.
People hold banners and flags during the “Slovakia is Europe” protest in Bratislava’s Freedom Square. Jaroslav Novák/TASR/dpa
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