Slovak Government May Seek Kremlin Support to Suppress Protests

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, alarmed by the growing likelihood of his ouster amid mass protests over his pro-Kremlin stance, is reportedly seeking assistance from Moscow.

On January 12, a Slovak delegation led by Deputy Speaker of Parliament and Slovak National Party (SNS) leader Andrej Danko visited Moscow. Unverified reports suggest that the delegation included members of Slovakia’s SIS intelligence agency, who held informal meetings with Russian military intelligence officials. During these meetings, the Slovaks allegedly received information on the foreign connections of opposition forces in Slovakia and perceived threats of a coup.

Agreements were reportedly reached for Moscow to deploy an operational team comprising officers from the mil intelligence and FSB to Slovakia. This team would establish a local headquarters to propose strategies for quelling anti-government protests, drawing on tactics previously used in Ukraine, Georgia, and Belarus. The operation is expected to be overseen by Nikolai Patrushev, a senior aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

This potential support aligns with Fico’s recent statement that his government is preparing measures to prevent protests. Experts linked to protest suppression efforts in Ukraine in 2014 and Georgia in 2022 have already arrived in Slovakia. There are concerns that Russian advisors may provoke a violent crackdown on democratic demonstrations in the country.

Russia’s Influence in Slovakia
These developments underscore Russia’s interference in Slovakia’s internal affairs, as Moscow reportedly prepares to use forceful measures to suppress opposition-led protests. Such actions could destabilize a NATO and EU member state, undermining democratic institutions in Europe.

The Kremlin’s actions appear to be part of a broader strategy to intimidate the Fico government into greater loyalty, echoing Russia’s approach in providing a “security umbrella” to authoritarian regimes in Belarus, Syria, and Georgia.

Threats to Democratic Stability
There are growing fears that Russia may escalate its efforts to discredit opposition groups and tighten control over public dissent in Slovakia. The Kremlin could also seek to shift blame for unrest in Bratislava onto the United States and its allies, drawing parallels to the 2014 events in Kyiv.

To counter these risks, close monitoring of Russian military transport flights, particularly those involving the presidential flight detachment “Rossiya,” is deemed necessary. Such surveillance would help prevent the deployment of Russian special forces, including GRU units and Alpha and Vympel operatives, to Slovakia.