On Friday premier Slovakia Robert Fico at a special press conference he announced that the state-owned insurance company had become a victim “mass cyber attack”, whose purpose was to steal sensitive data. Everything was supposed to start at noon.
– If successful, this would make it impossible to provide medical care in Slovakia. For now, we are successfully repelling the attack, but we cannot fully assess what will happen in the next few minutes and hours, said the head of government in Bratislava.
Slovakia. Robert Fico accuses Ukraine. Zelensky's name was mentioned
Fico stated that is involved in the attack Ukraine. In his opinion, the incident is “part of a textbook example of how disobedient governments that have a different view on certain issues are eliminated.”
According to Fico, “this activity is run by opposition leaders, non-governmental organizations run by foreign countries, foreign instructors and the media“.
He linked the attack to large-scale anti-government protests currently taking place in Slovakia. He also pointed to foreign politicians “who interfere in our internal affairs.”
– I would be glad if Ukrainians had better remained silent, because I have the impression that the basis of the conflict is that we allowed ourselves to tell President Zelensky that we will fight for our own interests – said Fico.
Slovakia. The Prime Minister reports a “mass cyber attack”. There is a reaction from the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
There was a reaction to Fico's statements Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, which “categorically rejects” suggestions about Ukraine's involvement in today's cyberattack in Slovakia.
“We once again call on Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico to stop looking for imaginary enemies in Ukraine, which is friendly to Slovakia and the Slovak people,” a statement from the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.
Slovak Denník N reported that in fact it is not just a cyber attack phishing activityi.e. an attempt to extort confidential information.
Fico is afraid of “Maidan”. “The situation is serious”
On Tuesday, the Slovak Prime Minister said that a “group of experts” is preparing “Maidan” in Slovakia and announced preventive measures against the protests that started today.
President Peter Pellegrini he then supported Fico's claims that a coup was allegedly being prepared, stating that “the situation is serious.”
The organizers responded with appeals for peaceful course of the demonstration and paying attention to possible provocations. People were asked to inform the police and take photographic documentation.
Thousands of Slovaks took to the streets. Protests in many cities
Anti-government protests in Slovakia are taking place throughout the country. According to Denník N, “apart from Bratislava, where participation was estimated at 35,000 to 40,000 people, organizers from other cities also reported a large number of participants.”
“There were over 10,000 people in Banska Bystrica, about 5,000 in Trenčín and Žilina, about 4,000 in Poprad and Nitra, and a thousand fewer people demonstrated in Trnava and 7,500 in Prešov.” – we read.
Citizens took to the streets to oppose the direction in which their country is heading in international relations. Protesters are afraid rapprochement with the Russian Federation and remind that Slovakia is a member European Union.
The organizers attended the rally in Bratislava for the first time they called on the Prime Minister to resign. They also demanded that the authorities be transparent, obey the law and reject any cooperation with Russiawhich is waging war against Ukraine and destroying human rights.
Protests in Slovakia. More numerous demonstrations than in 2018
Later, according to the organizers in Bratislava, the number of demonstrators approached 60,000. Even if these figures are overestimated, Friday's demonstration may be larger than that gatherings that led to Fico's resignation as prime minister in 2018.
Then protests broke out after the murder of investigative journalist Jan Kuciak and his fiancée.
According to Fico, his “rebellious government” is fought by opposition representatives, foreign-funded non-governmental organizations, a significant part of the Slovak anti-government media and foreign instructors staying in Slovakia.
Sources: Denník N, PAP, Unian, Ukraińska Pravda