Tens of thousands of protesters thronged a central square in the Slovak capital on Friday, waving banners opposing Prime Minister Robert Fico's policy shift closer to Russia, after tensions between the government and the opposition rose.

Tens of thousands of people in Slovakia have gathered at squares and street across the country to voice their opposition to the pro-Russia policies of populist Prime Minister Robert Fico.

There will be more and more of us. Those who want to live in our little Slovakia, but in a civilized Europe,” said Eva Kulová, 84, who helped topple Communism.

BRATISLAVA - Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico rejected protesters' calls for his resignation on Jan 25 after tens of thousands demonstrated against his government's policy shift closer to Russia.

The latest wave of anti-government rallies was fuelled by Robert Fico’s recent trip to Moscow to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"Bratislava is not Moscow, Slovakia is Europe," President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote on X on Jan. 25, voicing support for protests against Slovakia's government. The demonstrations, held under the slogan "Slovakia is Europe,

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has firmly rejected calls for his resignation, which emerged during mass protests nationwide. He stated that a change of government should occur only through elections,

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has criticised Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for supporting the protests against the Slovak government's policies that took place on 24 January. Source: Fico quoted by Aktuality;