Former Putin Ally Khodorkovsky Labels Slovak PM Fico a Tool for Dividing Europe

Mikhail Khodorkovsky, once Russia's richest man and now one of Vladimir Putin's harshest critics, has described Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico as an instrument being used by Moscow to fracture European unity. In an exclusive interview with Slovak media outlet Aktuality.sk, Khodorkovsky warned against a new cold war with Russia while criticizing Fico's role in advancing Russian interests. The former oligarch, who once sat at Putin's inner circle before falling from grace and spending a decade in Russian prison, has emerged as a prominent opposition figure operating from exile. Fico, who leads Slovakia's ruling social-democratic Smer-SD party, has maintained pro-Russian positions and criticized Western military aid to Ukraine since returning to power in 2023. His stance has put Slovakia at odds with most EU and NATO allies, who view his policies as undermining the Western response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.