“No one has the authority to dictate my movements or restrict them,” declared Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico, following remarks from the European Union’s top diplomat advising continental leaders against attending the yearly World War II triumph celebration in Moscow.
Noted for his pro-Kremlin positions, Fico has consistently stated that he plans to participate in the military festivities in Moscow on May 9 to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Nazi Germany’s surrender.
“Any involvement in the 9 May parades or festivities in Moscow will be closely scrutinized from the European perspective, as Russia is indeed conducting a large-scale war within Europe,” Kaja Kallas stated to journalists in Luxembourg on Monday.
“We explicitly stated that we do not wish for any aspiring nation to take part in these celebrations on the 9th of May in Moscow,” Kallas remarked, urging member countries to dispatch their delegates to the city of Kyiv instead.
Fico viewed Kallas’ comments as “disrespectful.”
MRS Kallas, allow me to advise you that I serve as the rightful Prime Minister of Slovakia, which stands as an independent nation,” Fico stated. “No one has the authority to dictate my travel plans or restrictions.
“I will go to Moscow on 9 May,” he added.
Fico said he will travel to Moscow to honour the Red Army soldiers who liberated his country and other victims of the Nazis.
The Kremlin has utilized the yearly Victory Day festivities to showcase its military might, with Russian President Vladimir Putin referring to the forces battling in Ukraine as “heroes” during the previous year’s celebration.
Last year, the Slovakian prime minister regained control following electoral success for his left-wing party, Smer, which campaigned on a pro-Moscow agenda.
Since then, he has ended his country’s military support for Ukraine, lashed out at EU sanctions on Russia, argued with Kyiv over Russian gas transiting through the country, and vowed to block Ukraine from joining NATO.
Unlike many Western politicians, Fico has not visited Kyiv since the start of the Russian full-scale invasion more than three years ago.
His government has faced ongoing protests against its policies, most recently regarding a draft law targeting NGOs, which has raised concerns of a Russian-style crackdown.
