00:00Thousands of people have gathered across Slovakia to protest against what they say are the pro-Russian
00:07policies of Prime Minister Robert Fico.
00:10The latest wave of rallies was fueled by Fico's recent trip to Moscow to meet Vladimir Putin,
00:15a rare visit to the Kremlin by an EU leader since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
00:21Fico's recent remarks that Slovakia's foreign policy could involve leaving the European
00:26Union and NATO has contributed to the unrest.
00:29The latest rallies took place in 41 locations in Slovakia, up from 28 two weeks ago.
00:36Fico is a divisive figure in Slovakia and has escalated tensions by accusing protest
00:41organizers of working with foreigners to engineer a coup.
00:45Fico's views on Russia have largely differed from the European mainstream.
00:50He ended Slovakia's military aid for Ukraine, criticized European Union sanctions on Russia
00:55and vowed to block Ukraine from joining NATO.
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