SaS: Fico's Meeting with Putin Slap in Face of Our Allies (2)

Bratislava, 8 May (TASR) - The opposition Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) party has criticised Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) for his trip to Moscow and his planned meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, describing the move as "a slap in the face" of Slovakia's allies, party spokesperson Ondrej Sprlak told TASR. SaS also plans to submit a motion to Parliament condemning the visit, added Sprlak. "Prime Minister Robert Fico has once again betrayed Slovakia. He's decided to travel to Moscow, where he'll personally meet war criminal Vladimir Putin. This trip isn't an act of remembrance, but clear support for a regime waging an aggressive war against Ukraine and threatening the security of the whole of Europe. This is a slap in the face of our allies. With this action, Fico is openly disrupting the unified stance of the European Union and NATO, of which we are members, and isolating Slovakia," warned SaS chair Branislav Groehling. According to SaS, Fico's visit is in effect not a commemoration of the end of the Second World War, but a celebration of Russian imperial policy, which is today murdering Ukrainians and threatening Slovak freedom as well. "Robert Fico doesn't represent Slovaks when he's with Putin. I'm convinced that Fico will also discuss behind closed doors with Putin how to undermine democratic elections in Slovakia and how to persecute opposition leaders following the Russian model," added Groehling. The party announced that it will submit a parliamentary resolution condemning Fico's trip to Moscow. "All members of Parliament now have a chance to show clearly whether they stand with our allies or on the side of collaboration with Russia," said Groehling. The opposition Progressive Slovakia (PS) party has also criticised the prime minister's working trip, arguing that the visit is neither a policy of peace nor neutrality, but a cynical attempt to legitimise an aggressor. "While Prime Minister Robert Fico is flying to Moscow to shake hands with Vladimir Putin, representatives of Progressive Slovakia have been holding talks in Ukraine and Poland on security, economic cooperation and Slovakia's future," stated PS vice-chair Ivan Korcok. According to Korcok, Fico's trip will damage Slovakia's international standing and weaken its credibility among its European partners. He added that Slovakia is currently isolating itself from Europe and from the opportunities that Ukraine's reconstruction will bring. MP Veronika Remisova ('Slovakia'-For the People) lambasted the current government on the occasion of Victory in Europe Day, saying that it seeks to legitimise extremism and dishonours the memory of the fight for freedom. In addition, Remisova criticised the fact that nationwide celebrations in Liptovsky Mikulas will only take place on 10 May. "It is absurd for Victory in Europe Day celebrations to take place two days later simply because Robert Fico, once again acting as a European outcast, put visiting a war criminal in Moscow ahead of attending nationwide commemorations. Once again, he's trampling on the memory of all those who took up arms against evil by bowing to a dictator and murderer who is trying not only to erase our neighbouring state from the map, but is also carrying out terrorist and hybrid attacks against the European Union and our region," she declared. Fico is due to visit Russia on Friday, 9 May for the Victory in Europe Day commemorations. He'll lay flowers at the Tomb of the Unknown Red Army Soldier in Moscow and is also expected to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin. NOTE: This story has been extended to include paragraphs 10-12 mf/df