Over the weekend, Slovak Member of European Parliament (MEP) Lubos Blaha visited Moscow in a bid to extend his gratitude to Russia for liberating his nation from fascism during World War II and to express regret over the “growing Russophobia” prevalent within the EU and the US.
Blaha, a member of Prime Minister Robert Fico’s Social Democratic SMER-SD party, recorded a video of himself visiting Red Square and placing flowers at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier near the Kremlin wall and at the monument to Soviet Marshal Georgy Zhukov. I came here as a friend of Russia because I can no longer look at the growing Russophobia in the West,” Blaha stated in the video published on Telegram. He noted that Russians made “incredible sacrifices” to liberate Slovakia.
The MEP expressed his desire to apologize for the “belligerent, hateful, and virtually fascist resolutions adopted by the EU Parliament against Russia.” Blaha asserted that Slovaks would “never be forced to hate the Russian people,” and he firmly rejected Western weapons deliveries to Kiev, sanctions on Moscow, and further escalations of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
We do not want our children to die in a nuclear war. Slovaks want peace!” Blaha added, emphasizing that Russians are perceived as “friendly people” in Slovakia and that this perception will never change. The MEP also advocated for dialogue with Moscow and an end to the “hatred of Russia.
Blaha was scheduled to deliver a lecture at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO) attended by Slovak students during his visit.
Elected to the EU Parliament this summer, Blaha is known for his sympathy towards Russia and criticism of the EU and US. The Standard describes him as “the most pro-Russian politician in Slovakia.” His outspoken rhetoric on social media has garnered significant attention online.
Previously, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico announced plans to visit Moscow to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II. He emphasized that “freedom came from the East,” referring to the liberation of Slovakia from Nazi occupation by the Soviet Army in 1945, and criticized the West for overlooking Ukrainian troops using Nazi symbols.