Opposition Slams Pellegrini over Reports Regarding His Trip to Moscow in 2020

Bratislava, 23 March (TASR) - The opposition parties 'Slovakia', Freedom and Solidarity (SaS), Christian Democratic Movement (KDH) and Progressive Slovakia (PS) have criticised President Peter Pellegrini following reports by Dennik N daily that his foreign trip as Prime Minister to Moscow in 2020 was allegedly arranged by Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto. The President's Office responded that the head of state will not be drawn into the Hungarian election campaign. "In 2020, as the then Prime Minister, he participated in standard political talks with the Prime Minister of the Russian Federation regarding Slovakia's energy security," stated the President's Office. According to Dennik N, Szijjarto allegedly explained to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov - at Hungarian PM Viktor Orban's request - that it was "crucially important" for Hungary that the then coalition parties in Slovakia stay in power, and that receiving Pellegrini in Moscow would "greatly help him win the election". MP Gabor Grendel ('Slovakia'-'For the People' caucus) described the situation as a grave diplomatic failure. "This is an unprecedented humiliation for Slovakia. It has never happened in history that a Slovak prime minister had to arrange a meeting in Moscow through a foreign government," he said. KDH called the reports of Pellegrini allegedly seeking help from Moscow via Hungary an "unprecedented scandal". While the government frightens the public with imaginary foreign agents, its top representatives are actually quietly asking foreign countries to intervene in Slovak elections to stay in power. "Today we fully understand why this government pursues policies that suit Orban and Putin more than the Slovak people. They are paying off old campaign debts and clearing the way for future favours," said KDH leader Milan Majersky. SaS chair Branislav Groehling announced plans to file a motion with the Prosecutor General's Office, insisting that Russian interference in Slovak elections must be investigated. "If the information from Hungary is true and Putin's Russia really helped Pellegrini, Smer-SD, and the Slovak National Party (SNS) in the elections, it's a huge scandal," he noted, adding that it's no coincidence that government officials are "batting for Russia". PS also called on Pellegrini to provide an explanation. "Mr Pellegrini likes to say that he's the president for all people. They deserve plain answers on his ties to the Russian Federation. These are critical security concerns," said PS member Peter Bator. PS and SaS also urged Prime Minister Robert Fico and Foreign Minister Juraj Blanar (both Smer-SD) to comment on the reports of information being leaked from EU ministerial meetings. "Yesterday, it came to light that the Hungarian Foreign Minister provided his Russian counterpart with a minute-by-minute account of the EU ministerial talks in Brussels. At the same time, it is known that these same actors previously discussed Russian assistance regarding the Slovak elections. We're also seeing ongoing Russian interference in campaigns in this region through disinformation, fake accounts, and manipulated videos. I fear that something like this may await Slovakia in 2027," said PS leader Michal Simecka. In this context, SaS has spoken of collaboration with the aggressor and a betrayal of EU and NATO interests. "Blanar is Szijjarto's closest ally and most frequent contact. He has adopted his rhetoric, mirrored his tactics, and now, he remains silent," said SaS MP Juraj Krupa. In its response for TASR, the Foreign Ministry stated that Blanar will not be drawn into the election campaign in Hungary and will not comment on the matter until the media allegations are thoroughly investigated. "The election in Hungary will take place in less than three weeks, and the Slovak opposition is trying to enter the pre-election battle and attack the current government from beyond Slovakia's borders. Instead of waiting for the outcome of a democratic election, the opposition is weaponising the media and using progressive tactics to smear anyone with a different opinion," stated the ministry, adding that presumption of innocence means nothing to the opposition. jrg