Mass protests: Tens of thousands demonstrate in Slovakia against government

Tens of thousands of people protested in almost 30 Slovakia cities against the government of left -wing national prime minister Robert Fico. In banners and speech choirs, the demonstrators called the head of government to resign. According to the organizers, 60,000 people are said to have participated in the largest rally in front of the government seat in Bratislava.

The message should be: “Slovakia belongs to Europe. We don’t want a collaboration with Russia.” This was said by Marian Kulich from the “Mier Ukrajine” Citizens’ Initiative (Peace of Ukraine), which had called on the demonstrations together with partner organizations. In contrast to previous protests, the participants waved up only a few Ukrainian flags, but above all those of Slovakia and Europe.

Government opponents accuse Fico an increasingly authoritarian and “pro -Russian” course. He criticized this again on Thursday as a defamation. “This government will never take steps that our membership in the European Union and NATO could question.”

Fico has set arms deliveries to the Ukraine attacked by Russia from its own army stands and often criticizes the EU sanctions that, in his opinion, the Slovakia, which is dependent on Russian gas and oil, also criticizes more than Moscow. Nevertheless, Slovakia, unlike Hungary, has so far agreed to all EU resolutions against Russia and Ukraine.

Secret service report warns of riots

A few days ago, the head of government had warned that demonstrations from government opponents could lead to riots. He referred to a report by the domestic intelligence agency SIS about alleged overthrow plans. “Structures with connection abroad and to the Slovak opposition” should therefore plan attacks on government buildings and provocations. The police should be forced to take hard, which can then be represented as violence against peaceful demonstrators. The demonstrators criticized this report on Friday evening with several banners.

Call to the protest ratings in Bratislava and other cities, Slovakian online report of public television StVR, Slovak online report of the TV news broadcaster TA3, Slovakian