The whereabouts of Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico have not been known for two weeks. He did not appear before the public after his trip to Moscow, the website of “Dennik N” newspaper notes. On Friday evening, a protest was organized in front of the government headquarters in Bratislava.
The head of the Slovak government met with Putin in the Kremlin on December 22. They discussed, among other things, the issue of Russian gas delivery, the war in Ukraine, and the stabilization of Slovakia-Russia relations. This was the last time Fico was seen in public. The Slovak press does not know where he is now.
Dennik N journalists found a recording that may have been made at the luxury Capella Hotel in Hanoi, Vietnam. They contacted the hotel and asked to be connected to an apartment that Fico could rent. The call was transferred but no one answered the phone. The receptionist explained that the person was probably not in the room.
READ MORE: Robert Fico “after a long talk” with Putin in the Kremlin
Robert Fico met with Vladimir Putin in Moscow Alexander Zemlyanchenko/POOL/PAP/EPA
Anti-government demonstration in Bratislava
Fico’s absence at the head of the government probably did not have a direct impact on the demonstration that was organized in Bratislava on Friday evening against the prime minister’s policies. Demonstrations include: against his meeting with Putin.
The protest was organized by the initiative of the citizens of “Peace for Ukraine”, and its purpose was to oppose the direction in which the country is headed under the leadership of the current prime minister. The organizers emphasized that Slovakia belongs to Europe, and Fico sold democracy in Slovakia and the country’s place in the European Union with his visit to Moscow. Specially prepared posters with the inscriptions “We are Europe” and “Treason” were visible among the crowd. “We will not remain silent”, “We will not surrender to Slovakia” and “Fika is enough” were heard.
Organizers announced that similar protests will be held in other Slovak cities next week. On January 10, demonstrators will return to the capital.
Main photo: Alexander Zemlianichenko/POOL/PAP/EPA
