Thousands gather in Slovakia to protest against PM’s pro-Russian policies

People light up their phones as thousands gather to oppose the policies of populist Prime Minister Robert Fico in Bratislava (Denes Erdos/AP)

Huge crowds have gathered in dozens of cities and towns across Slovakia to protest against the pro-Russian policies of populist Prime Minister Robert Fico.

The latest wave of anti-government rallies was fuelled by Mr Fico’s recent trip to Moscow for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, a rare visit to the Kremlin by a European Union leader since Moscow’s all-out invasion of Ukraine began on February 24 2022.