Slovak PM Fico's Moscow Visit Draws Parliamentary Criticism as Foreign Minister Sits Out

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico will travel to Moscow on May 9 to honor victims of World War II, though he will not attend the military parade, and plans to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Fico leads Smer-SD, the ruling social-democratic party in Slovakia's coalition government. The visit has drawn criticism in the National Council, Slovakia's parliament, particularly as it comes amid ongoing tensions over Russia's war in Ukraine. Foreign Minister Juraj Blanár will notably skip this trip, unlike previous occasions when he has accompanied the prime minister on controversial visits. The May 9 commemoration marks Victory Day, when Russia celebrates the defeat of Nazi Germany, but the event has become increasingly politicized since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022.