The opposition SaS criticizes Prime Minister Robert Fico’s (Smer-SD) trip to Moscow and the announced meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. According to her, this step is a spit in the face of our allies. At the same time, he is preparing a resolution of the National Council (NR) of the Slovak Republic, which will condemn this route. TASR was informed about this by party spokesman Ondrej Šprlák.
“Prime Minister Robert Fico betrayed Slovakia once again. He decided to go to Moscow, where he will personally meet the war criminal Vladimir Putin. This trip is not a reverent memory, but a clear support for the regime that is waging an aggressive war against Ukraine and threatening the security of all of Europe. This is a slap in the face to our allies. With this step, Fico openly violates the unified position of the European Union and NATO, of which we are a member, and isolates Slovakia,” said the president of SaS, Branislav Gröhling.
According to the SaS party, with this visit, Fico is not de facto celebrating the end of the Second World War, but the Russian imperial policy, which today is killing Ukrainians and threatening our freedom. “Robert Fico does not represent Slovaks before Putin. I am convinced that Fico will talk privately with Putin about how to make democratic elections in Slovakia impossible and how to persecute the leaders of the opposition following the example of Russia“, Gröhling pointed out.
At the same time, the party announced the submission of a resolution to parliament that would condemn Fico’s trip to Moscow. “All members of the National Council have a chance to clearly show whether they stand on the side of our allies or on the side of collaboration with Russia,” Gröhling added. The opposition PS also criticized the working trip of the prime minister. He claims that it is not a policy of peace or neutrality, but a cynical legitimization of the aggressor.
“While Prime Minister Robert Fico is flying to Moscow to shake hands with Vladimir Putin, representatives of the PS have been negotiating in Ukraine and Poland about security, economic cooperation and the future of Slovakia,” noted PS vice-chairman Ivan Korčok. According to him, Fico’s trip damages Slovakia’s international standing and weakens its credibility among European partners. At the same time, according to Korčok, Slovakia is currently isolating itself from Europe and from the opportunities that the restoration of Ukraine will bring.
Member of the National Council of the SR Veronika Remišová (Slovakia – For the People) on the occasion of Victory over Fascism criticized the current government, which, in her words, legitimizes extremism and denigrates the memory of the fight for freedom. Remišová also criticizes that the nationwide celebrations in Liptovský Mikuláš are held only on May 10. “It is absurd that the Victory Day over fascism celebrations take place two days later, the reason being that Robert Fico, as a European pariah, preferred the visit of a war criminal to Moscow over the nationwide celebrations.
Once again, he tramples on the memory of all those who stood up to evil with a weapon in hand, when he goes to bow to a dictator and a murderer who is not only trying to wipe our neighboring country off the map, but is also carrying out terrorist and hybrid attacks against the European Union and our region,” she pointed out. At the same time, she urged that the legitimization of extremism and overtaking by aggressors should not cover up the truth about our history. “Freedom is not maintained by silence, but by the courage to stand up to evil in all its forms,” she declared.
Fico will visit Russia on Saturday, May 9, on the occasion of the Victory over Fascism Day celebrations, and in Moscow he will lay flowers at the grave of an unknown soldier of the Red Army. He is also scheduled to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
