The Friday protests were organised by civic group Mier Ukrajine (Peace to Ukraine). Media reported around 15,000 turned up in Kosice in eastern Slovakia, the country's second biggest city, on Thursday. (Reporting by Radovan Stoklasa in Bratislava and Jason Hovet in Prague; Editing by Sharon Singleton)

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

Slovakia's opposition accused Prime Minister Robert Fico on Tuesday of laying the groundwork to take the country out of the European Union, but dropped its no-confidence motion to dismiss him and his leftist-nationalist government.

Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico addresses the media during a meeting with his Hungarian counterpart Viktor Orban in Bratislava, Slovakia, Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025.