Slovakia Accuses Ukrainian Intelligence Unit, Georgian Legion, of Orchestrating Anti-Government Protests
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has alleged that the Ukrainian military intelligence unit known as the Georgian Legion is behind recent anti-government rallies in Slovakia. The unit, composed primarily of Georgian nationals, is accused of acting as a tool for Ukrainian secret services to oust the Slovak government and trigger snap elections.
Around 100,000 protesters gathered across Slovak cities last week, expressing discontent with Fico’s perceived pro-Russian stance and disagreement with EU policies supporting Ukraine. The opposition has criticized Fico, who survived an assassination attempt by a pro-Ukraine activist, for his criticism of the EU’s support for Kiev.
Fico claimed at a press conference that the Ukrainian intelligence, using the Georgian Legion led by Mamuka Mamulashvili, attempted to manipulate these protests to remove his government. He pointed to ties between Mamulashvili and ‘Peace for Ukraine’, which organized some rallies. Originally a militia backing Kiev, the Legion has since integrated into the Ukrainian military under its intelligence branch.
The Slovak prime minister highlighted similarities in tactics used during Georgian unrest last year and the ongoing mass protests in Slovakia and Serbia. He stated, “If something looks like a duck, quacks like a duck, walks like a duck, it is a duck.”
In response to these allegations, Slovakia has sanctioned Mamulashvili and banned him from entering the country. The interior minister announced that 10 individuals have been sanctioned in total, with one Ukrainian national set for deportation.
The head of the Slovak Information Service (SIS), Pavol Gaspar, described the attacks on Slovakia as a “long-term organized hybrid operation,” indicating that protests are part of this ongoing campaign.