Overview

• Slovakia's parliament approved a law tightening reporting and disclosure requirements for NGOs, set to take effect on June 1 unless vetoed by President Pellegrini.
• The government claims the law enhances transparency, but NGOs and rights groups argue it mirrors Russian-style measures aimed at restricting civil society.
• Provisions labeling NGOs as lobbyists and allowing dissolution for administrative errors were removed before the final vote after public and international pressure.
• Mass protests erupted earlier this month in Bratislava and other cities, with thousands opposing the law's perceived threat to freedoms of association and expression.
• The law has drawn criticism from EU bodies and human rights advocates, who warn it violates constitutional rights and undermines democratic principles.