Protests Against Gov't Foreign Policy Erupt Across Slovakia (2)

Bratislava, January 10 (TASR) - About 15,000 people gathered in Bratislava, with thousands in other towns and cities across Slovakia, to protest against actions of the government, which in their view undermine the rule of law and Slovakia's commitments to the EU and NATO, TASR learnt from Katarina Cibikova of the Peace for Ukraine civic association. At the beginning of the protest, a state of civic alert was declared, signed by civic associations and protest organisers from across the whole of Slovakia, joined also by expats abroad. In their joint declaration, the signatories underlined the responsibility of Slovak citizens over the future of Slovakia, and voiced their determination to continue organising non-violent protests in defence of democratic values and the pro-Western orientation of Slovakia. The signatories called on Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) to comply with the laws, respect institutions and principles of transparent governance. Another demand was for the government to reject any form of cooperation with Russia, stop its verbal attacks against Ukraine and refrain from attempts to change the foreign policy orientation of Slovakia. "Slovakia is turning away from Western allies and shifting towards the purported policy of four cardinal directions, but in reality we see only leanings towards authoritarian regimes. We don't want that. We want a free and democratic Slovakia, with a clear pro-Western humanist-civilisational anchoring. A Slovakia that will be useful and respected by neighbours, but also by the international community," head of Prazska Kaviaren association Andrej Probst stated in Prague. According to chair of Million Moments for Democracy Lukas Hilpert, the current situation in Slovakia is a case in point of how easy it is in politics to lose fundamental values and basic democratic principles. According to Hilpert, the Slovak government is "openly collaborating with Putin's regime". mf/mcs