“We are not a Russian rag”: Thousands of people Protest against Prime Minister Fico

03. Jan. 2025

Russia is a terrorist state, reads a banner at a Friday protest in BratislavaSource: Natalia Jabůrková/ Aktuality.sk

The Prime Minister’s steps, which have fundamentally affected Slovakia’s foreign policy in recent weeks, have driven citizens back into the streets.

Slovakia, watch out, the occupation has begun, that was one of the slogans of the organizers of the protest, which brought several thousand people to the streets on Friday. Despite the freezing weather in the capital, they came to express their displeasure with the steps of Prime Minister Robert Fico, which mainly concern foreign policy.

Approximately 4,000 citizens received graphics by academic painter Rudolf Sikora from the organizers. While on one side was “treason”, on the other side was the slogan “we are Europe”.

During the protest, participants waved not only the flag of the Slovak Republic, but also the flag of the European Union. The European anthem was also given its space, with the organizers emphasizing that this anthem is also ours.

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We are Europe too

One of the organizers, Viera Dubačová, spoke about Slovakia’s importance in Europe during her speech. “We are Europe too,” she shouted, prompting enthusiastic chants from the crowd. “Russia is a warring state,” shouted a Slovak woman working in Ukraine.

Painter Sikora, in turn, emphasized that it is essential for the civil sector to unite with the opposition. “It’s not about politicization,” he emphasized, adding that it is crucial for civic associations and activists to unite as well. “I beg you, opposition politicians, come together sensibly,” he emphasized, adding that it is essential to unite against evil.

Participants in a public rally near the Government Office of the Slovak Republic who do not like Fico’s pro-Russian policiesSource: David Ištok/Aktuality.sk

Lucia Štasselova recalled the occupation in 1968 and the persecution of her family. “I will not allow this country to fall under Russian political influence. This is the infinite audacity of our Prime Minister,” Štasselova exclaimed, adding that the Russian world is spreading destruction throughout the world.

“We are not a Russian rag,” the speakers told the government of Robert Fico, saying that they wanted to hand Slovakia over to Russia. “We are not Russia,” the organizers chanted along with the crowd.

The assembly ended with the anthem of the Slovak Republic – in the old version from 1993.