Robert Fico disputes reports on SNP anniversary celebrations

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has criticized the newspaper SME, labeling its reporting on the 82nd anniversary of the Slovak National Uprising (SNP) celebrations in Banská Bystrica as "nothing but blatant lies." Fico responded to claims that he intentionally omitted SNP heroes from his speech and that President Peter Pellegrini failed to greet former President Zuzana Čaputová.

Fico clarified that President Pellegrini did not greet Čaputová because she and members of the Progressive Slovakia (PS) party left the event immediately after the wreath-laying ceremony and did not participate in the full program. The Prime Minister further accused the media of being connected to George Soros and suggested that the opposition is acting under foreign influence.