On a crisp September evening in Bratislava, the air was thick with the sounds of dissent. Thousands of Slovaks poured into the city’s central SNP square, their voices echoing off the old buildings: “Shame, shame,” and “We had enough of Fico.” The target of their frustration was unmistakable—Prime Minister Robert Fico, whose recent meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Beijing had ignited a fresh wave of protests and political controversy across Slovakia.
According to the Associated Press, the latest demonstration on September 11, 2025, was not an isolated event. Instead, it marked an escalation in a series of protests against Fico’s increasingly pro-Russian policies and his government’s planned austerity measures. The timing was no coincidence. Just days earlier, Fico had traveled to China, where he was the only European Union head of state to attend a military parade hosted by Chinese President Xi Jinping, commemorating the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. There, at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, Fico met with Putin—his third such encounter since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in 2022, as reported by Reuters.
The symbolism was hard to ignore. While most of Europe’s leaders have shunned direct contact with Russia’s president in protest of the ongoing war in Ukraine, Fico has charted his own course. Notably, he has never visited Kyiv or any Ukrainian region devastated by the conflict. Instead, Fico has repeatedly called for “normalizing” relations with Moscow, a stance that has drawn sharp criticism from both domestic opponents and international observers.
Slovakia’s own opposition parties have seized on these actions. “This is just a beginning,” declared Alojz Hlina, an organizer from the Freedom and Solidarity opposition party, addressing the crowd in Bratislava. “We have to stop them.” His words, reported by the AP, captured the mood of a public increasingly uneasy with their leader’s foreign policy—and his government’s approach to domestic issues.
Fueling the protests further were government-proposed austerity measures, scheduled for parliamentary debate the day after the demonstration. Many Slovaks, already frustrated by rising living costs and a series of government scandals—including allegations of misusing European Union funds—see these measures as the latest in a string of unpopular decisions by Fico’s administration.
Fico’s return to power in 2023, after his leftist Smer (Direction) party won the parliamentary elections, was itself a reflection of deep divisions within Slovak society. Running on a platform that was both pro-Russia and anti-American, he has not shied away from challenging European Union consensus—especially on Ukraine. According to Reuters, Fico has openly questioned the effectiveness of Western sanctions on Russia, arguing that such measures have failed to change Moscow’s approach to the war. Instead, he has advocated for peace negotiations and opposed providing military aid to Ukraine.
“How many sanctions packages do we have to adopt to change Russia’s approach to the war?” Fico asked rhetorically, as quoted by Reuters. His skepticism was not limited to words. On September 11, 2025, Fico stated unequivocally that Slovakia could not support further EU sanctions against Russia—at least not until the European Commission addressed what he described as pressing economic concerns. Specifically, Fico demanded that any new sanctions package be accompanied by proposals to align the EU’s climate targets with the needs of carmakers and heavy industry, as well as measures to tackle soaring electricity prices across the bloc.
“I will not support adoption of another package until the Commission submits realistic proposals that will align demanding climate targets with the needs of the production of cars, not only in Slovakia, and with the needs of heavy industry,” Fico insisted after meeting with EU Council President Antonio Costa in Bratislava. He added, “I will not support any further package unless the European Commission submits realistic proposals regarding electricity prices in Europe.”
This is not the first time Fico has used his position to influence EU policy. He previously delayed the adoption of a sanctions package by demanding guarantees against potential losses from a separate EU plan to end all gas and oil imports from Russia by 2028. Such actions have frustrated Slovakia’s European partners, who see unity as essential in the face of Russia’s aggression.
The European Union, for its part, is currently debating its 19th package of sanctions against Russia. EU diplomats, as reported by Reuters, say the new package is likely to include more listings of Chinese companies, Russian banks, and vessels in Moscow’s so-called “shadow fleet,” as well as a transaction ban on Russian oil. These measures are part of a broader Western effort—spanning tens of thousands of sanctions since Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea and the subsequent invasion of Ukraine—to cripple the Russian economy and force a change in policy.
Yet, for many Slovaks, Fico’s actions are reminiscent of another controversial Central European leader—Hungary’s Viktor Orbán. Critics argue that Fico is steering Slovakia toward a more autocratic path, much like Orbán, who has long been accused of undermining democratic institutions and aligning closely with Moscow. This comparison has only intensified the sense of urgency among opposition groups, who have organized additional rallies—including one led by the liberal Progressive Slovakia party scheduled for the following week.
Public opinion in Slovakia remains sharply divided. While Fico’s supporters praise his willingness to challenge EU orthodoxy and defend national economic interests, his opponents warn that his policies risk isolating Slovakia from its European allies and undermining support for Ukraine at a critical juncture. The chants in Bratislava—“Shame, shame”—reflect a broader anxiety about the country’s direction and its place in the European family.
Meanwhile, the West continues to grapple with the question Fico posed: Will more sanctions bring Russia to the negotiating table, or do they simply entrench divisions? As the EU debates its next move, Slovakia stands at a crossroads, its leader’s decisions reverberating far beyond its borders.
In the coming days, as parliament debates austerity and opposition rallies continue, the tension in Slovakia shows no sign of abating. For now, the streets of Bratislava remain a stage for a nation wrestling with its identity, its alliances, and its future in an uncertain world.