On 20 December, thousands of Slovak citizens took to the streets of major cities to protest against the plans of Robert Fico's government. It is important to understand that the pro-Putin politician's team plans to disband the special prosecutor's office that oversees high-profile corruption cases, reduce the penalties for corruption and weaken the protection of whistleblowers.
Large-scale protests engulfed Slovakia: what is known
According to the latest data, rallies are taking place in the cities of Kosice, Pryasiv, Poprad, Banska Bystrica, Zilina, Nitra, Trnava, Trenchyn, Spyska Nova Ves, Liptovsky Mikulas and Povazhska Bystrica.
According to the leader of the leading opposition party Progressive Slovakia Michal Simecka, the changes to the legislation that the government plans to introduce will unleash the mafia and corrupt people.
It is important to understand that the Slovak opposition promises to continue protests until the government withdraws the "pro-mafia package".
In addition, it is emphasised that the attempts of pro-Kremlin Prime Minister Robert Fico to reform the legislation have caused outrage in the European Union.
For example, the EC leadership urged the official Bratislava not to rush into changes and even threatened to prosecute it for violating the law.
Who joined the protests in Slovakia
It is important to understand that the country's population is 5.4 million people.
According to journalists, thousands of people have already taken part in protests in several cities. The largest number of people gathered in Bratislava - about 10-15 thousand.
Civic activists and organisations are also mobilising, including the ZSS, which organised protests in 2018 following the murder of Slovak investigative journalist Jan Kuciak, which eventually led to Fico's resignation as prime minister.
Despite the fact that the official Brussels calls on the Slovak authorities not to liquidate the Special Prosecutor's Office, Robert Fico still ignores these demands.
