Slovakia: Anti-corruption protests in Bratislava June 5

Event

On Monday, June 5, thousands of people participated in anti-corruption protests in Bratislava, demanding the resignation of Interior Minister Robert Kalinak due to his connections with a real estate developer accused of tax fraud. The protesters also demanded that police chief Tibor Gaspar and special prosecutor Dusan Kovacik resign for not taking effective action to end corruption. According to Slovak media, the protesters numbered between 5000 and 10,000 people.

Context

On Tuesday, April 18, at least 5000 protesters gathered in Bratislava's Hviezdoslavovo Námestie square to make similar demands. The protests on Monday are some of the largest since Prime Minister Robert Fico's government came to power in 2012.

Protesters have also expressed general discontent regarding the state of the country, denouncing a lack of accountability in government institutions and the dim future for the country's youth. President Andrej Kiska has expressed support for the protesters.

According to Transparency International 2016's report, the country is the 54th least corrupt of the 176 countries studied.

Advice

Individuals in Bratislava are advised to avoid all demonstrations and remain aware of the political situation. ​