Opposition Calls for Melicher to Be Dismissed for Comment on Ukraine

Bratislava, 21 November (TASR) – The opposition has lambasted Defence Ministry State Secretary Igor Melicher stating on TV Markiza that Ukraine should fall under Russian influence. The 'Slovakia' party and Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) are demanding his dismissal. Progressive Slovakia (PS) leader Michal Simecka declared on social media that Melicher is either "stupid or a Russian agent". The Christian Democratic Movement (KDH) stated that the state secretary's remarks show that he's defending Russian influence. "Such words directly question Slovakia's foreign-policy orientation, which stands on the side of defending Ukraine. What the Defence Ministry state secretary said isn't just a diplomatic blunder; it is grounds for disqualification from the post of state secretary in an EU- and NATO-member state. Igor Melicher is no longer even pretending not to be a mouthpiece of Russian propaganda," said SaS chair Branislav Groehling. The party considers a free and independent Ukraine to be a key security interest for Slovakia and says that the government should dismiss Melicher. 'Slovakia' leader Igor Matovic recalled that about a year ago "[Defence Minister Robert] Kalinak went to an international meeting in Warsaw and rambled on there about how the best defence against the Russians is to surrender, because from Slovak experience we know that when a Russian comes once, he'll also leave once". Matovic also called on the Voice-SD party to "bang on the table" if Smer-SD lacks self-reflection. PS leader Simecka said on social media that the scenario described by Melicher would in reality mean Russian military bases and troops on Slovakia's border. mf/df