Controversies linked to Russia piling up in Slovakia

Slovakia has become increasingly embroiled in controversies over its relations with Russia, with the US recently extending Russia sanctions to a Slovak company, the Interior Ministry granting protection to a pro-Russian actor, and a parliament official giving an interview to Russian television and spreading pro-Kremlin narratives.

On Wednesday, the US extended its anti-Russian sanctions list to hundreds of individuals and entities, including a Slovak company.

The newly approved measures by the US aim to circumvent restrictions already in place. In Slovakia’s case, the sanctions are imposed on Carovilli Trading SRO, which the US says sells computer equipment and software to companies in Russia.

In just a few months in 2023, Carovilli is alleged to have made over 350 shipments of electronics, including electronic modules, circuits and microprocessors.

The sanctions also apply to 20 companies based in China and Hong Kong and 60 entities in Russia, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates. The US accuses them of allowing Moscow to buy the necessary technology and equipment it needs to wage war on  Ukraine.

State protection for pro-Russian Ukrainians

On Tuesday, the Czech newspaper Deník N reported that the Slovak government had provided protection to the pro-Russian actor Artyom Marchevskyy, who tried to influence the EU elections and left Ukraine because he was being investigated for cooperating with Moscow.

He went to Czechia, which put him on its own sanctions list at the end of March and was about to revoke his residence permit. However, Marchevskyy then left for Slovakia, where the Interior Ministry granted him temporary protection.

Marchevskyy’s lawyer, Leonid Kushnarenko, confirmed his client is indeed in Slovakia, while the Slovak Interior Minister Matúš Šutaj Eštok did not want to comment.

“Due to the ongoing actions, we will not comment further on the matter. We will provide information after the end of the investigation,” the Interior Ministry added.

Marchevskyy, along with pro-Russian Ukrainian businessman Viktor Medvedchuk, was allegedly a part of a pro-Russian influence network that financed the Voice of Europe media platform and gave money to some EU politicians, writes Deník N.

Parliament Deputy Speaker on Russian TV

Earlier this week, main opposition party, Progressive Slovakia (PS), said that Ľuboš Blaha, the deputy speaker in parliament, gave an interview to Russian state television RT during which he spread pro-Kremlin propaganda.

Blaha, known for his anti-EU and pro-Russian views, is currently a candidate for Prime Minister Robert Fico’s Smer party in the European elections (second place).

“The war in Ukraine is here for expansion of NATO and its American allies to the Russian borders,” said Blaha.

“We can see that the House of Representatives passed a $61 billion (€56.9 billion) bill for Ukraine on the same day, 20 April, when Adolf Hitler was born,” he hinted, adding that he does not “think that is a coincidence”.

“Hitler’s Russophobia was so strong that he attacked the Soviet Union. So, I do not think that is a coincidence. I think there is an interest in American liberal circles to push this war against Russia more and more,” he concluded.

PS Chairman Michal Šimečka described the content of Blaha’s ten-minute interview as “scandalous” and “being in absolute contradiction with Slovakia’s foreign policy and national interests”.

“He insults our allies with nonsense conspiracies about Hitler’s birthday,” Šimečka said, adding that Blaha should apologise.

Meanwhile, tens of thousands of Slovaks are trying to protest against the government, which refuses to send military equipment to Kyiv, by rallying behind an arms fundraiser for Ukraine.

“Let’s help Ukraine despite our pro-Russian government,” the organisers wrote on the official website of a fundraising campaign called “Ammunition for Ukraine”.

Slovak citizens have already collected over €4.1 million.

(Natália Silenská | Euractiv.sk)

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