Tens of thousands protest in Slovakia over pro-Russia policies of populist leader Fico

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(24 Jan 2025)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:

++AUDIO AS INCOMING++

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Bratislava, Slovakia - 24 January 2025
1. Various of people getting ready before protest
2. Crowd waiting for the start of the protest
3. Crowd holding banners and flags
4. SOUNDBITE (Slovak) Erik Vrábeľ, protester:
"I was motivated to come to the protest because I am a young person, and I am worried about the state of democracy in Slovakia. I want to live here. I don’t want to move abroad. I have many family members, acquaintances, and friends here. Slovakia is Europe!"
5. People holding banner mocking the Slovak Minister of the Interior
6. SOUNDBITE (Slovak) Silvia Ševcová, protester:
"I think it is important to express disagreement with what is happening here, and it is important to say we are here, and we are not going to let our state be kidnapped."
7. Various of people signing and making victory sign
8. SOUNDBITE (Slovak) Ján Kráľ, protester:
"Today, I came here because in 1989, I was in youth organizations that sang the anthem at the squares during demonstrations. Today, we are in 2025, and we are back where we were then. I cannot believe it."
++NIGHT SHOTS++
9. Crowd shouting (Slovak) "We will not let you have Slovakia"
10. Crowd signing Slovak national anthem
11. Close of protester giving victory sign
STORYLINE:
Tens of thousands of protesters gathered at squares and streets across Slovakia Friday to voice their opposition to the pro-Russia policies of populist Prime Minister Robert Fico.

The latest wave of anti-government rallies was fueled by Fico’s recent trip to Moscow to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin, a rare visit to the Kremlin by a European Union leader since Moscow’s all-out invasion of Ukraine began on Feb. 24, 2022.

Fico’s recent remarks that that it was a possibility to change Slovakia's foreign policy orientation and leave the European Union and NATO were among other recent steps by the prime minister that fueled the anger of protesters.

"I am worried about the state of democracy in Slovakia," said protester Erik Vrábeľ.

"Slovakia is Europe!" he added.

Friday’s rallies took place in 28 locations, more than double compared to two weeks ago amid heightened tensions after Fico accused organizers and the opposition earlier this week of being in contact with an unspecified group of foreigners who he says are working toward engineering a coup in Slovakia.

Fico linked his accusations to a secret report by the country’s spy service, known as SIS, that he presented in parliament on Tuesday.

Fico said that the opposition plans to occupy government buildings, block roads, organize a nationwide strike and provoke clashes with police forces as parts of the alleged plan to overthrow his government.

Slovak leaders said that the situation was serious, but the opposition dismissed the report and accused SIS of being misused for political purposes.

SIS is led by the son of Fico’s close party ally.

The organizers of most of the rallies, from the Peace for Ukraine organization, dismissed Fico’s claims and said that he is trying to frighten the Slovak population.

Organizers said their protest in Bratislava was attended by 60,000 people and rallies will continue on Feb 7.

Fico’s views on Russia have sharply differed from the European mainstream.

He returned to power last year after his leftist party Smer (Direction) won a parliamentary election on a pro-Russia and anti-American platform.

Since then, he has ended Slovakia’s military aid for Ukraine, lashed out at EU sanctions on Russia and vowed to block Ukraine from joining NATO.





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