🔴#Slovakia | Slovak Authorities Issue Warning Concerning Potential Coup. 

Slovakia witnessed widespread protests across more than 20 cities, with demonstrators calling for the resignation of Prime Minister Robert #Fico's government. The protests were fueled by public discontent regarding Fico's perceived shift away from a pro-European stance and his increasing rapprochement with #Russia. In Košice, over 10,000 individuals took to the streets, while the capital, #Bratislava, saw participation from approximately 15,000 protesters.

Organized by the Peace for #Ukraine initiative along with various opposition political parties, the protests featured participants waving Slovak and European Union flags, chanting slogans such as "Slovakia is Europe" and "Slovakia supports Ukraine." The demonstrators accused Fico of adopting a pro-Russian policy that threatens the nation's alignment with European values.

In reaction to the escalating protests, Prime Minister Fico asserted that there were indications of a potential coup d'état brewing within Slovakia. He claimed that a "group of experts" from abroad, who previously played roles in color revolutions in Georgia and Ukraine, were operating in the country alongside opposition groups, non-governmental organizations, and media entities to incite unrest. Fico emphasized that his government would implement preventive measures to thwart any coup attempts.

Slovak President Peter Pellegrini echoed Fico's concerns, declaring the situation serious and in need of urgent attention. He underscored the importance of maintaining security and stability throughout the nation.

The opposition, however, vehemently refuted Fico's allegations, labeling them as a tactic to intimidate the public and divert attention from pressing issues. Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesman Georgiy Tykhyi also weighed in, describing Fico's claims as an attempt to instill fear in Slovak society and rally his political base. He advised the Prime Minister to focus on addressing the actions that have led to widespread discontent among citizens.

Additionally, on the same day, Fico reported a significant cyberattack on Slovakia's national insurance company, alleging that Ukraine was behind the incident. He claimed the attack aimed to obtain sensitive information regarding citizens’ medical diagnoses, potentially hindering the provision of healthcare. However, local news outlet Denník N clarified that the incident was not a cyberattack but rather a phishing attempt aimed at fraudulently acquiring data.
#Slovakia #Fico