Protests Erupt in Slovakia with Thousands in Attendance

On the evening of January 24, thousands gathered in the center of Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia, to protest against the policies of Prime Minister Robert Fico and his rapprochement with Moscow. The demonstration was organized by the "Peace for Ukraine" initiative in collaboration with opposition political parties. They claim that around 60,000 people participated in the event. Protesters chanted "Enough Fico" and "We are Europe."

Prior to the demonstration, Fico convened the Security Council, expressing concerns about a potential "color revolution" threatening the country. He accused the opposition of having ties with foreign entities plotting a change of government. In late December 2024, Fico visited Moscow and met with Vladimir Putin. His trip was related, among other issues, to the suspension of the transit of Russian gas through Ukrainian territory, which Kyiv announced in December.