Tens of thousands protested in Slovakia against Prime Minister Fico

Tens of thousands of people across Slovakia protested against the government of Prime Minister Robert Fico, defying his warnings that rebels linked to the opposition would use the protests to bring about a coup.

Rallies are being held in 25 Slovak towns and cities, the latest in a series of protests against his nationalist coalition.

Protesters say Fico is undermining the country’s institutions, culture and position in the EU and Nato, especially his attack on Ukraine and closeness with Moscow.

Fico denies allegations that he wants to exclude Slovakia from the EU and Nato, saying that his country’s membership in both institutions is not in question.

Local newspaper Dennik N estimated that around 100,000 people across Slovakia attended the protests, with at least 40,000 in the capital alone.

About 10,000 are reported to have taken to the streets of Banska Bystrica, a city of 75,000 people.

On Thursday, 15,000 protested in Slovakia’s second city, Kosice, to avoid conflict with a separate event being held there this evening.

There were no reports of violence or unrest, contrary to Fico’s warnings this week that protesters would incite protesters to attack public buildings, prompting a police crackdown that led to mass protests.

Earlier on Friday, Fico told reporters that the police would soon start deporting several foreign “educators” who he said were in Slovakia to help the opposition try to overthrow his government.

On Wednesday, he called a meeting of the government’s security council, saying that intelligence agencies have concrete evidence that a group of foreign terrorists who were involved in the recent protests in Georgia and in 2014 in Ukraine were working in Slovakia.

Slovakia’s domestic intelligence service, SIS, confirmed the claims, but gave few details. The opposition parties do not trust the SIS, as it is run by the son of a member of Parliament from Fico’s Smer party.

Fico said the “massive” cyber attack on the country’s health insurance system on Friday was a textbook example of “how to get rid of a disobedient government with an unusual view on certain things” – referring to his opposition to arming Ukraine and his efforts. to repair relations with Moscow.

He said that such activities are carried out by representatives of opposition parties, independent organizations from outside the country, foreign teachers and journalists.

Dennik N later reported that the incident was actually a phishing attempt, not a cyber attack, and not very large in scale.

Slovak officials say previous cyber attacks against the country’s land registry may have originated in Ukraine. Kyiv has categorically denied the accusations.