The News
Monday 25 of November 2024

Slovak president condemns questioning of protest organizers


FILE - In this Friday, March 23, 2018 file photo, protesters hold a banner reading
FILE - In this Friday, March 23, 2018 file photo, protesters hold a banner reading "I do care about it" during an anti-government protest march in Bratislava, Slovakia. Slovakia’s President has condemned a move by the country’s police that has started questioning the organizers of recent massive anti-government protests over allegations of staging a coup and corruption. President Andrej Kiska called the police questioning an intimidation. The organizers said they didn’t do anything wrong and announced more protests for Friday, Nov. 16. The protests were triggered by the slaying of an investigative reporter and his fiancee. (Marko Erd/TASR via AP, file),FILE - In this Friday, March 23, 2018 file photo, protesters hold a banner reading "I do care about it" during an anti-government protest march in Bratislava, Slovakia. Slovakia’s President has condemned a move by the country’s police that has started questioning the organizers of recent massive anti-government protests over allegations of staging a coup and corruption. President Andrej Kiska called the police questioning an intimidation. The organizers said they didn’t do anything wrong and announced more protests for Friday, Nov. 16. The protests were triggered by the slaying of an investigative reporter and his fiancee. (Marko Erd/TASR via AP, file)

BRATISLAVA, Slovakia (AP) — Slovakia’s president has condemned a move by the country’s police, which started questioning the organizers of recent massive anti-government protests over allegations of staging a coup and corruption.

Tens of thousands of Slovaks repeatedly took to the streets amid a political crisis in major protests triggered by the slaying of an investigative reporter and his fiancee earlier this year. They led to the collapse of a coalition government led by Prime Minister Robert Fico.

Police say they had to act after they received an anonymous criminal complaint.

The organizers said the complaint suggested they were paid by U.S. philanthropist George Soros, something that Fico repeatedly charged.

President Andrej Kiska on Tuesday called the police questioning intimidation. The organizers denied any wrongdoing and announced more protests for Friday.