Thousands are protesting in Slovakia against the government’s policy towards Russia

BRATISLAVA (Reuters) – Thousands of people took to the streets of the Slovak capital Bratislava on Tuesday to show support for Ukraine and protest against the Slovak government, which critics say has become too close to Russia.

Since taking power last October, Prime Minister Robert Fico’s government has been a source of concern among critics, with sharp criticism of European military aid to Ukraine and pressure to renew Russian ties, both cultural and political.

The latest instance occurred this month when Slovak Foreign Minister Juraj Blanar held talks with Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov – a rare high-level meeting between a European Union member state and a country the EU has sought to isolate.

“The people of Ukraine hear this every day,” said protest organizer Michal Hvorecky as the demonstration began with the sound of emergency sirens.

“I am here because the actions of this government coalition cross all limits,” Hvorecky said from the podium, where next to the flags of Slovakia, Ukraine, the European Union and NATO hung a sign calling Russia a “terrorist state.”

According to the Dennik N. news site, organizers estimate that 5,000 people took part.

Fico has faced regular opposition protests against his policies, mainly changes to penal codes that critics say weaken the fight against corruption, but this was the first protest against his foreign policy.

“I don’t like the direction our prime minister is taking after the elections,” said Roman, a 45-year-old IT specialist who joined the protest on Tuesday. “I’m disappointed. We are part of the West.”

Fico defends his government’s “balanced and sovereign” foreign policy and said there is no military solution to the conflict in Ukraine, which continues more than two years after Russia invaded.

He rejected arms aid to Ukraine – except for commercial supplies – arguing that it would only prolong the fighting. Ukraine’s Western allies rejected this argument, saying withholding aid would simply lead to Ukraine’s defeat, not negotiations.

Foreign Minister Blanar also defended his meeting with Lavrov on March 2 – which he said took place at the request of the Russian side – saying a diplomatic solution was needed.

Fico has spoken out against sanctions imposed on Russia, but has not yet blocked EU action or financial assistance to Ukraine.

In January, Slovak Culture Minister Martina Simkovicova decided to reopen cultural ties with Russia.

The change in foreign policy has upset some allies. Last week, the Czech government made a strong symbolic gesture by suspending for the foreseeable future joint meetings with the Slovak cabinet that were a regular feature of previous governments.

(Reporting by Radovan Stoklasa in Bratislava and Jason Hovet in Prague; Editing by Susan Fenton)