Russian President also echoes new US President’s claim conflict in Ukraine could have been prevented had he been in White House in 2022

Tens of thousands of people protested across Slovakia Friday evening, as anger grows over nationalist Prime Minister Robert Fico's push for closer ties with Russia.

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

HAS VLADIMIR PUTIN QUIETLY ACQUIRED a new imperial possession in the heart of Europe, embedded within the EU and NATO? The suggestion may sound hyperbolic, but reports from Bratislava are becoming stranger by the day.

Massive protests took place in Slovakia's capital, where thousands opposed Prime Minister Robert Fico's closer ties to Russia. As tensions with opposition rose, Fico accused them of attempting chaos.

In contrast, the Russian Federation has been referred to as an “imitation democracy”. It has institutions that one would find in democratic systems of government (a parliament and a directly elected president). But, among other flaws, these institutions do not function within a genuinely competitive or fair electoral environment.

The TurkStream gas pipeline is the last one supplying Russian resources to Europe. Reports of its possible destruction have caused concern not only in the Kremlin but also in Budapest and Bratislava.

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

The TurkStream gas pipeline is the last one supplying Russian resources to Europe. Reports of its possible destruction have stirred up concern not only in the Kremlin but also in Budapest and Bratislava.

Late on Friday afternoon, people slowly gather at Freedom Square in Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia, to protest against the government of Prime Minister Robert Fico. The atmosphere is calm. People are streaming into the square from all directions,