Nine former Slovak diplomats have filed the largest-ever collective lawsuit against Slovakia’s Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, accusing Foreign Minister Juraj Blanár and his top civil servant Marta Vozáryová of orchestrating an unlawful purge of experienced staff in late 2024. The plaintiffs claim they were dismissed not for performance, but for being gay, disabled, elderly, linked to Western institutions, or perceived as pro-Ukraine—part of what they describe as an ideologically driven campaign to dismantle Slovakia’s pro-Western diplomatic tradition. Among them is Ivan Novotný, a former diplomat whose earlier case of denied parental benefits over his sexual orientation was confirmed as discrimination by Slovakia’s national human rights body. The lawsuit, filed months after Prime Minister Robert Fico’s return to power, could become a landmark test of the country’s anti-discrimination laws, judicial independence, and democratic commitments amid growing concerns of foreign influence and political loyalty overriding rule of law.
Nine former employees of Slovakia’s Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs have filed a collective lawsuit alleging politically and personally motivated dismissals during a sweeping purge of the diplomatic corps in late 2024. The plaintiffs argue they were removed not for performance reasons but due to discriminatory criteria, including sexual orientation, disability, age, and pro-Western views. According to the group, this is the largest collective legal action ever taken against the ministry.
The most prominent among the plaintiffs is Ivan Novotný, a former diplomat and legal adviser who previously filed an anti-discrimination lawsuit after the ministry refused to grant him financial benefits and parental leave on the basis of his sexual orientation. Novotný and his husband, Metod Špaček—both seasoned diplomats—had been the only openly gay couple working in the ministry until both were dismissed.
The new lawsuit goes beyond Novotný’s individual case, documenting what the plaintiffs describe as an “unlawful purge” orchestrated by Foreign Minister Juraj Blanár and the ministry’s top civil servant, General Secretary Marta Vozáryová. The plaintiffs claim they were placed on a so-called “list of undesirables” for reasons entirely unrelated to job performance.
Examples cited include a woman with a serious disability who was regularly absent due to health needs, a man who had previously worked with Globsec (a respected Bratislava-based think tank focused on global security), and a career diplomat labelled “too pro-Ukrainian.” One was dismissed allegedly for being close to retirement age.
Political Retaliation Alleged Behind the Purge
The dismissals occurred as part of a larger overhaul of the ministry following the return to power of Prime Minister Robert Fico in October 2023. Fico appointed Blanár, a senior figure in the ruling Smer party, as foreign minister. Despite lacking foreign policy experience, Blanár quickly began reshaping the ministry’s leadership. In total, 46 experienced diplomats were dismissed, while 150 new employees—many reportedly lacking diplomatic qualifications and educated in Russia—were recruited.
This ideological reshaping of the foreign ministry has raised significant alarm among foreign policy analysts. Critics argue that the purge aimed to eliminate voices aligned with Slovakia’s traditional Euro-Atlantic orientation in favour of a more Russia-friendly foreign policy line.
Novotný and other plaintiffs describe the selection process for dismissals as discriminatory and politically driven. In a public statement announcing the lawsuit, he called the criteria used “textbook examples of unlawful discrimination” and described the ministry’s internal processes as “legally flawed and cynically executed.”
A Public Call for Accountability
In a public LinkedIn post announcing the lawsuit, Ivan Novotný offered a rare insider’s account of what he called the “November purge” within the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs. He alleged that dismissals were carried out based on arbitrary and discriminatory criteria: “She was seriously disabled—on the list. He worked at Globsec—on the list. She was too old—on the list. Too pro-Ukraine—on the list. And I could go on.”
Novotný described the lawsuit as the product of months of internal organising, stating that “we are nine now, but we started with many more.” He praised the legal team’s work and framed the legal challenge not only as a fight for labour rights but as a defence of democratic values: “Such actions, however high-handed Blanár and Vozáryová may feel, are still forbidden in Slovakia. We still have laws—and a somewhat functioning judiciary.”
The post was widely circulated among Slovak legal and diplomatic communities, underscoring the symbolic and institutional stakes of the case. Novotný’s framing of the lawsuit positioned it as a test of whether political loyalty and prejudice can override fundamental rights in the Slovak civil service.
Broader Strategic Implications for Slovakia
The legal action adds to mounting international concerns about Slovakia’s internal democratic trajectory and its foreign policy realignment under the current government. Prime Minister Fico has drawn criticism for his open hostility toward civil society and the media, and for undermining institutions responsible for upholding rule of law.
Foreign Minister Blanár has further stirred controversy through his opaque diplomatic conduct, including holding undisclosed meetings with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and questioning Slovakia’s support for Ukraine. His decisions have resulted in Slovakia being increasingly isolated from NATO and EU strategic initiatives. In one symbolic but telling episode, Fico met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in a highly unorthodox one-to-three diplomatic setting, widely interpreted in international circles as a gesture of subordination.
The plaintiffs argue that their dismissals are not isolated incidents, but part of this broader strategic reorientation. By targeting diplomats associated with pro-European and pro-Ukrainian views, the ministry is accused of dismantling institutional expertise and replacing it with political loyalists.
Test for Slovakia’s Rule of Law and Human Rights Commitments
The lawsuit will now test the resilience of Slovakia’s legal system and its adherence to anti-discrimination protections. Although the Slovak National Centre for Human Rights (SNSĽP)—a public human rights watchdog—has confirmed that Novotný faced discrimination, the ministry has refused to offer a settlement or acknowledge any wrongdoing.
If the court rules in favour of the plaintiffs, the decision could set a precedent for enforcing labour and equality rights within Slovak state institutions. A ruling against them, however, may fuel growing concerns over judicial independence and the erosion of human rights protections in the country.
Despite the potential political headwinds, Novotný expressed optimism: “We still have laws and a somewhat functioning judiciary. It won’t be quick or easy—but we will win.”
Source:
Denník N
Ivan Novotný
