Slovakia: Opposition alleges Russian pressure on Fico government

The opposition party SaS has raised concerns regarding potential Russian influence over the Slovak government. According to SaS foreign policy expert Ivan Novotný, a Russian diplomat informed Slovak officials that Moscow would view the signing of the International Claims Commission for Ukraine treaty as an ‘unfriendly step’ that contradicts the current spirit of Slovak-Russian relations.

The treaty, established under the Council of Europe, aims to create an independent body to decide on compensation for damages caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, potentially utilizing frozen Russian assets. While 40 signatories including the EU have joined, Slovakia remains among the few EU members that have not yet signed.

Following the alleged warning from Moscow, Prime Minister Robert Fico reportedly halted the discussion of the material during a government meeting without providing an explanation. SaS and MP Juraj Krúpa have warned that such pro-Russian alignment could lead to Slovakia’s isolation within the European Union and potentially jeopardize access to EU funds.