Andrej Danko, leader of the openly pro-Kremlin Slovak National Party and former President of the National Parliament, and Tibor Gašpar, former police president and father of Slovakia’s intelligence chief, have both requested permission to visit Moscow. Danko, who previously travelled to the Russian Duma and shook hands with Vladimir Putin, is joined by Gašpar, who earlier this year secretly hosted the Russian ambassador for cyber security talks, sparking fresh concerns about Slovakia’s political and intelligence alignment.
Context of the Proposed Visit
Danko disclosed his official request to Žiga for a trip to Moscow in January during an interview on Infovojna. This outlet, directly linked to the Kremlin’s influence in Slovakia, was shut down by Slovak authorities following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine due to its dissemination of pro-Kremlin propaganda.
Danko asserted that his Moscow visit, based on an invitation from the chairman of Russia’s State Duma, would be financed personally. He expressed eagerness to meet Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and highlighted the importance of normalising Slovak-Russian relations. The stated agenda includes addressing energy resource deliveries, with Danko arguing that Slovakia’s reliance on Russian gas, oil, and nuclear fuel is critical for its economic competitiveness.
Political and Intelligence Ties in Moscow Trip Requests
Danko claimed that the period following the U.S. presidential election is ideal for re-engaging with Russia. His stance aligns with SNS’s pro-Russian orientation, which has often drawn criticism for contradicting Slovakia’s commitments to European Union and NATO solidarity.
The announcement also coincided with Tibor Gašpar, a former police president and father of the current Slovak Intelligence chief Pavol Gašpar, joining Danko in requesting approval for a Moscow trip. Earlier this year, Gašpar secretly hosted Russian Ambassador Igor Bratchikov at the National Council. When the meeting was uncovered, a brief press conference was held, where Gašpar stated that the discussion revolved around cyber security consultations.
Slovakia’s Leaders Tighten Their Embrace of Moscow
This instance comes at a time when the alignment of Slovak government leaders with Kremlin officials is intensifying. Key figures, including the prime minister, SMER vice president and MEP Ľuboš Blaha, the interior minister, the defence minister, and the vice defence minister, have, if not directly advocated for Russian foreign policy interests, then echoed Kremlin propaganda. Such developments challenge Slovakia’s commitment to its EU and NATO obligations, highlighting the risks posed by government actors prioritising ties with Moscow over the nation’s democratic and geopolitical alignment with the West.
