By Radovan Stoklasa BRATISLAVA (Reuters) -Tens of thousands of protesters thronged a central square in the Slovak capital on Friday, waving banners opposing Prime Minister Robert Fico's policy shift closer to Russia,

Tens of thousands of people protested across Slovakia Friday evening, as anger grows over nationalist Prime Minister Robert Fico's push for closer ties with Russia.

Ahead of planned pro-European protests in around 20 Slovak cities Friday, the pro-Moscow ruling coalition on Thursday used an emergency meeting of the country’s Security Council to address what it alleged was an “organized escalation” of domestic tensions directed from abroad.

Ukrainian President Zelenskyy backs Slovakia’s protests against Prime Minister Fico’s pro-Russia stance, reinforcing the nation’s European identity.

Massive protests took place in Bratislava against Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico's shift towards Russia, echoing earlier demonstrations from 2018. Fico faces accusations of undermining democracy and diverting from EU and NATO alliances,

Tens of thousands of protesters gathered in a central square in the Slovak capital on Friday, waving banners opposing Prime Minister Robert Fico's policy shift closer to Russia after tensions between the government and the opposition rose.

Slovakia's Moscow-friendly prime minister has faced accusations by the country's largest opposition party of trying to take the country out of the EU. View on euronews