Robert Fico has not appeared in public since his December trip to Moscow – noted the portal of the “Dennik N” newspaper, adding that the media do not know where the Slovak Prime Minister is. The press service of the country's president, Petro Pellegrini, informed the Sme daily that “the president was informed about the length of the leave and the prime minister's whereabouts.” However, the newspaper emphasizes that Pellegrini does not disclose this information.
The head of the Slovak government met with Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin on December 22. They discussed, among other things, Russian gas supplies, war in Ukraine and on the normalization of Slovak-Russian relations. This was the last time Fico was seen in public. Slovak media reported on Friday that it has been unknown where the Prime Minister is for two weeks.
The president knows where the prime minister is. But he won't reveal it
On Saturday, the “Sme” newspaper wrote that Slovak President Petr Pellegrini knows where Fico is, but will not reveal his whereabouts.
Pellegrini's press service responded to questions from “Sme” that “the president was informed about the length of the leave and the prime minister's whereabouts.” “It is not the role of the head of state to comment on his whereabouts. This is an independent decision of the Prime Minister,” they added.
Robert Fico met with Vladimir Putin in Moscow. Photo from December 22Alexander Zemlianichenko/POOL/PAP/EPA
Fico has not appeared in public since his stay in Moscow. However, he published two recordings on the Internet with comments regarding the suspension Ukraine transit of Russian gas. On Friday, the Dennik N newspaper wrote that one of its readers recognized that one of the videos was taken in a luxurious suite of the five-star Capella hotel in Hanoi in Vietnam.
Journalists from the “Dennik N” newspaper website contacted the hotel and asked to be connected to an apartment that could be rented by Fico. The call was transferred, but no one answered the phone. The receptionist explained that the person was probably not in the room.
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A day at this hotel costs approximately PLN 6,200. euro. Head of the strongest opposition party, Progressive Slovakia (PS) Michal Szimeczka wrote that his party will make sure that every Fico voter suffering from high prices and disappointed finds out how much the prime minister's alleged stay in a hotel in Hanoi cost.
Another PS politician, former head of diplomacy and former candidate for the president of Slovakia, Ivan Korczok, said on social media that the situation is unprecedented and the prime minister is not a private person, even on vacation.
Anti-government demonstration in Bratislava
Fico's probable absence at the head of government's office did not stop the protest that was organized on Friday evening against the prime minister's policy. The demonstrators expressed their opposition to, among others: regarding his meeting with Putin.
The protest was organized by the citizens' initiative Peace for Ukraine, and the aim was to oppose the direction in which the country is heading under the rule of the current prime minister. The organizers emphasized that Slovakia belongs to Europe, and with his visit to Moscow, Fico sold democracy in Slovakia and the country's place in the European Union. Specially prepared posters with the words “We are Europe” and “Betrayal” were visible in the crowd. “We will not remain silent”, “We will not surrender to Slovakia” and “Enough of Fica” were chanted.
The organizers announced that similar protests will be held next week in other cities in Slovakia. On January 10, the demonstrators will return to the capital.
Main photo source: PAP/EPA/GAVRIIL GRIGOROV/SPUTNIK/KREMLIN / POOL