Mass Protests Erupt in Slovakia Over Government's Pro-Russia Policies

Prime Minister Robert Fico refuses to step down despite demonstrations accusing his administration of undermining EU and NATO alignment.

An estimated 100,000 Slovaks protested across the country on Friday, with 60,000 gathering in the capital, Bratislava, in the largest demonstrations since 2018.
The protests were sparked by Prime Minister Robert Fico's foreign policy shift toward closer ties with Russia, including a private December meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Fico has dismissed calls for his resignation, stating that the government can only be changed through elections, and accused opponents of attempting to stage an illegal overthrow.
Critics argue Fico's administration is eroding democratic values and distancing Slovakia from its commitments to the European Union and NATO.
Protest organizers, including the civic group 'Mier Ukrajine,' plan further demonstrations on February 7 under the slogan 'We are Europe.'