Slovak parliament bans government from supporting sanctions against Russia: What is known
Photo: The building of the Slovak Parliament (Getty Images)
The Slovak Parliament approved a resolution initiated by the ultra-nationalist Slovak National Party (SNS), calling on government members to no longer support anti-Russian sanctions at the international level, Denník N reports.
Out of 76 deputies present, 51 supported the initiative, 23 abstained, and one voted against it. The opposition left the hall before the vote as a form of protest.
The majority of MPs from the National Coalition also voted in favor, except one deputy who abstained.
The document calls on government members not to support anti-Russian sanctions in international organizations, citing the negative impact of the sanctions on energy prices in Slovakia.
The meeting was attended by the initiators of a petition to hold a referendum on lifting sanctions against Russia. Also present in the hall was former Minister of Justice Štefan Harabin, who was recently temporarily acquitted in a case related to endorsing Russia’s war against Ukraine.
Sanctions against Russia and Slovakia
Relations between Slovakia and Russia have undergone significant changes in recent years, especially after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Initially, Slovakia, as a member of the European Union and NATO, supported a strict sanctions policy against Moscow.
However, the situation began to change after the 2023 parliamentary elections, when populist Robert Fico, known for his pro-Russian views, returned to power. His government took a more detached stance on the war in Ukraine and later publicly questioned the effectiveness of sanctions against Russia, blaming them for the negative impact on Slovakia’s economy.
In 2024–2025, an increasing number of political forces in the country began openly opposing anti-Russian sanctions.
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico stated that the country might veto new European Union sanctions against Russia if they “threaten” the peaceful resolution of Russia’s war against Ukraine.
A petition demanding a referendum on lifting sanctions against Russia was also created in Slovakia. According to the initiators, the document was signed by nearly 400,000 citizens.
However, Slovak President Peter Pellegrini declared that a referendum in the country on lifting sanctions against Russia "simply cannot be held."
It is worth recalling that the EU Council has already approved its 16th package of sanctions against Russia. This package targets, among other things, Russia’s shadow fleet as well as banks that bypass restrictions.
