Slovak PM Robert Fico accused of doing Russia’s bidding

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The EU and Nato ought to rein in Prime Minister Robert Fico in his politically motivated pursuit of former authorities officers for his or her resolution to ship army support to Ukraine, Slovakia’s former defence minister has stated.

Jaroslav Naď informed the Monetary Occasions {that a} felony probe launched in opposition to him final week confirmed that Fico was “attempting to boost the Russian flag within the EU”. The probe was distinctive in Europe for the lengths to which the Slovak premier was going to punish his political opponents for supporting Kyiv, Naď stated.

The investigation targets former prime minister Eduard Heger, Naď and different members of their administration who final yr determined to donate 13 fighter jets to Ukraine. They’re accused of treason and sabotaging nationwide sovereignty. The Slovak defence ministry stated Naď must also be charged with abuse of energy.

“The worldwide neighborhood ought to undoubtedly present Fico that his political struggle ought to have some limitations . . . I feel the EU and Nato ought to react to that,” Naď stated. In any other case, “I might be most likely the one one placed on trial by a state energy for serving to Ukraine in opposition to Russian aggression”. 

Final yr Fico, then in opposition, claimed the federal government violated Slovak sovereignty when sending army support to Kyiv by decree, relatively than in search of parliamentary approval.

Naď — who now chairs the Democrats, certainly one of Slovakia’s pro-EU opposition events — stated Slovakia’s army support was despatched in accordance with each nationwide and worldwide legislation and complaints about it had already been dismissed final yr by police and prosecutors.

“There is no such thing as a new proof in any respect . . . the distinction is that the police and prosecutors are actually within the palms of Robert Fico,” Naď stated. A profitable prosecution, he added, “together with presumably placing us in jail for some time would present to their citizens that they [Fico and his coalition] ship” on their election pledges.

Fico, who survived an assassination try final month and remains to be recovering from his bullet wounds, has proven no indicators of reconciliation with the liberal opposition. Politicians from each side of the aisle initially condemned the polarisation and toxicity of Slovak public discourse that led to Fico’s capturing.

In a latest video deal with Fico questioned whether or not the 71-year-old assailant was a “lone wolf”, as his personal inside minister initially described him, and careworn that the attacker was “an activist of the Slovak opposition”.

Since coming to energy in October, the Slovak premier has emulated his political ally in neighbouring Hungary, Viktor Orbán, each in opposing sanctions in opposition to Russia and in pursuing an intolerant agenda that features the weakening of the rule of legislation, limiting freedom of speech and cracking down on overseas funding acquired by media and rights teams — regardless of warnings from Brussels that these steps violate the bloc’s treaties.

Final week, the Slovak authorities fast-tracked a media invoice to dismantle after which relaunch the nationwide broadcaster below a brand new title and completely different administration. Soňa Weissová, a journalist working for RTVS’s radio service, stated the federal government’s reform was “an indication of their energy” that amounted to “a black day not only for public broadcasting however for our democracy as properly”. 

Following Fico’s capturing, the federal government put ahead recent laws designed to strengthen safety, together with restrictions on gatherings and protests exterior official buildings.

“Somewhat than addressing any real security considerations, this invoice goals to increase the ability of the authorities to limit and even ban peaceable assemblies and would create a major chilling impact on human rights,” stated Rado Sloboda, director of Amnesty Worldwide Slovakia.