Slovakia’s cabinet criticised Czech police for inaction over online comments against Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, according to bne IntelliNews.
Fico survived an assassination attempt in mid-May.
With unhappiness, we received the information that Czech police consider rogue and impolite approval of the assassination attempt on the Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico a freedom of expression, even though with statements of its citizens criticising Ukrainians it did not have this level understanding for freedom of expression.
Until 1993, the Czech Republic and Slovakia used to be one country, and the two languages are mutually understood. The two nations maintain very close ties, but since the formation of the Fico government in October, tensions have arisen. In particular, the countries disagreed over the war in Ukraine. This led the Czech party to suspend the ritual of occasional joint cabinet meetings in March.
The Slovak government statement also criticised Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala for his comment that he would not discuss the possible resumption of joint cabinet meetings between the two governments.
The peaceful stance of the government of the Slovak Republic towards the war in Ukraine is a sovereign stance of the Slovak Republic and cannot be an obstacle to the development of the Czech-Slovak mutual relations.
The latest spat took place during new President Peter Pellegrini’s visit to Prague after her inauguration on 15 June. Traditionally, the top officials of each country make their first official visit abroad.
However, Pellegrini told a press conference in Prague that he could not judge the Czech police. He added that he understood “the response of the Slovak political scene, when […] the Czech side won’t take as vigorous actions as the Slovak one.”
Meanwhile, the Czech police indicated that they did not react to political comments.
In our processes, we are strictly bounded by criminal law and the criminal code and it is unthinkable that we would bypass it.
