Why is this important?
According to the organizers, 60,000 people gathered in Bratislava. Even if this data is inflated, Friday's demonstration may be more many than the assemblies that led to Fica's resignation in 2018. The protests broke out after the execution of investigative writer Jan Kuciak and his fiancée. The current wave of demonstrations was triggered by a visit by the Slovak Prime Minister on 22 December 2024 to Moscow and his talks in the Kremlin with Vladimir Putin.
What do the protesters want?
At a rally in Bratislava, the organizers called for the Prime Minister to resign for the first time. Transparency, law enforcement and rejection of all cooperation with Russia, which wages war against Ukraine and destroys human rights, were besides demanded.
How was the demonstration?
The Friday demonstrations were accompanied by extraordinary safety measures. On Tuesday the Prime Minister said the planned protests were part of a conspiracy to overthrow his coalition government. The organisers responded with calls for a peaceful demonstration and attention to possible provocations. They were asked to inform the police and make photographic records. The protests went smoothly, although in Bratislava at any point the lights went out and there were problems with the sound strategy in the centre of the city. The organizers immediately informed participants that it was not sabotage. The next protests are due in 2 weeks.
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