The protests emerged in response to Prime Minister of Slovakia Robert Fico's diplomatic actions and policy positions following his return to power in October 2023.

His Direction – Social Democracy (Smer–SD) party secured electoral victory on a platform combining pro-Russian sentiment with anti-American and Eurosceptic rhetoric, leading to substantial changes in Slovakia's foreign policy orientation.

Fico claimed that political opposition from the left showed "violent or hateful excesses" against his democratically elected government over the belief that a West-focused foreign policy was the only acceptable approach, especially concerning the Russo-Ukrainian war, believing that the "right to have a different opinion has ceased to exist in the European Union".

[11] On 12 June, Fico's government unveiled a series of measures to improve security for politicians and other important individuals in response to the assassination attempt.

[13] In addition, the Slovak government faced potential economic ramifications from the cessation of Russian gas transit caused by Ukraine's tightening of sanctions, against Lukoil, Russia's largest private oil firm.

[16][17][18][19][20] According to Fico, Slovakia, which earns money from transporting Russian gas through the parastatal Eustream, will lose half a billion euros annually in the future.

[26] Large-scale protests occurred on 24 January 2025 amid heightened political tension after Prime Minister Fico presented allegations of a potential coup attempt.

Citing a classified Slovak Intelligence Service (SIS) report, which is headed by the son of a close party associate of Fico's who faces serious charges of misusing the police for political purposes,[27][28] Fico claimed that his political opposition was coordinating with foreign entities to orchestrate the overthrow of his government through planned civil disobedience, including government building occupations, road blockages, and nationwide strikes.

Opposition leaders and protest organizers from Peace for Ukraine categorically rejected these allegations, characterizing them as attempts to intimidate the Slovak population.

[29] On 10 January 2025, the Peace to Ukraine organization coordinated demonstrations throughout Slovakia, with protest leader Lucia Štasselová condemning the Moscow visit as fundamentally incompatible with democratic values.

[44] Fico also announced that Mamulashvili and 9 other members of the Gerogian Legion were banned from entering Slovakia after claiming that the Slovak government had linked the unit to the alleged coup attempt.

[45][46] On 1 February 2025, the Main Directorate of Intelligence of Ukraine (HUR) denied Fico and the SIS's claims about the Georgian Legion's alleged involvement.