The Slovak government may appeal to Russia for support in suppressing mass protests triggered by Prime Minister Robert Fico's pro-Kremlin stance, specialists from the Robert Lansing Institute (RLI) have stated.
According to information, a Slovak delegation led by Deputy Speaker of Parliament Andrej Danko visited Moscow on January 12. The delegation reportedly included Slovak intelligence officers who held meetings with representatives of Russian military intelligence. It is alleged that they discussed the possibility of Russia providing information about the foreign connections of the opposition and measures to prevent a coup.
Reports indicate that the Russian side proposed sending an operational group to Slovakia, consisting of FSB officers and military intelligence personnel. They could organize a headquarters and suggest strategies for suppressing protests using methods previously applied in Ukraine, Georgia, and Belarus. It is expected that the operation would be led by Nikolai Patrushev, one of Vladimir Putin’s closest allies.
These events coincide with Fico's statements about the government's preparation of measures to prevent protests. Some experts linked to suppressing demonstrations in other countries have already arrived in Slovakia, raising concerns about a possible violent crackdown on protesters.
Russia's intervention in Slovak affairs could seriously destabilize the situation in the NATO and EU member state, undermining democratic institutions and provoking internal conflicts. According to experts, Moscow may use this situation to strengthen control over public dissent and discredit the opposition, blaming the West for the unrest.
To counter these risks, it is proposed to enhance monitoring of Russian aviation to prevent the possible deployment of Russian special units to Slovakia.
