A high-ranking Slovak parliamentary delegation visited Moscow on 12 January 2025, reinforcing deepening ties between Slovakia and Russia at a time of ongoing Kremlin aggression in Ukraine. The trip, financed from state funds, followed earlier meetings between Slovak government officials and Russian leaders, including discussions framed around energy and cultural cooperation. Denied direct overflight by Poland due to incomplete documentation, the delegation rerouted via Germany. In Moscow, members dismissed narratives of Russian isolation, praised its economic and cultural resilience, and met with a sanctioned Kremlin official who claimed Russia respects national sovereignty—despite its continued war in Ukraine and operations against NATO.
The visit by Tibor Gašpar, Vice-Chairman of the Slovak National Council and Chair of its Defence and Security Committee, on 12 January 2025 is the latest in a series of meetings between Slovak and Russian officials. Prime Minister Robert Fico met Vladimir Putin in December 2024 under the guise of energy discussions. Foreign Minister Juraj Blanár has engaged Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov multiple times, often more frequently than Western counterparts. Ľuboš Blaha, Vice-Chairman of SMER and an MEP, met Dmitry Medvedev at a 2024 BRICS summit in Sochi, advocating for “Slavic mutuality.” These interactions collectively indicate increased Slovak engagement with Moscow despite Russia’s war in Ukraine.
The delegation’s flight was marked by controversy, as Poland denied direct overflight permission due to incomplete Slovak documentation, forcing a rerouting via Germany. Despite initial resistance from acting Speaker Peter Žiga, the delegation secured €19,000 in public funding, framing the trip as an official effort to discuss energy and cultural cooperation.
In Moscow, delegation members made public statements about Russia’s economic and cultural standing. Andrej Danko, Chairman of the Slovak National Party (SNS) and Deputy Speaker of the Slovak Parliament, dismissed the notion of Russian isolation, stating, “We’re here to show that not all Slovaks align with liberal agendas.” Richard Glück, a Member of Parliament from SMER-SD, remarked that claims of economic hardship in Russia were unfounded, while Ján Mažgút, another SMER-SD MP, described Moscow as “unparalleled.” At the Bolshoi Theatre, Danko promoted cultural diplomacy, suggesting future performances by Slovak artists, while failing to address the devastation caused by Russia’s military aggression in Ukraine.
The delegation met with Vyacheslav Volodin, Speaker of the Russian Duma and a sanctioned Kremlin official. Danko expressed respect for Russia’s resilience, while Volodin stated, “The principle of our policy is non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries,” despite Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine and its hybrid operations targeting NATO. Volodin also invited Slovak representatives to attend Moscow’s May celebrations marking the end of the Second World War, events long used to promote Russian narratives about history and geopolitics.
