In Slovakia, a controversial new law targeting nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) is drawing widespread criticism and comparisons to authoritarian tactics used in Russia. Organizations such as Via Iuris and Peace for Ukraine argue that the proposed legislation undermines democracy and threatens independent civil society in the country.
“This law is a direct copy of Russian legislation, which has been used there to dismantle independent organizations, silence the media, lock up dissenters, and suppress opposition,” said Lucia Stasselová of Peace for Ukraine, a group coordinating anti-government protests. She made the remarks in an interview with POLITICO.
Earlier this month, mass demonstrations erupted across Slovakia and in several other European cities, including Madrid, Copenhagen, and London, where thousands took to the streets to oppose the bill. More than 30 Slovak cities hosted protests, reflecting deep domestic and international concern about the direction of the country’s democratic governance.
The legislation is part of a broader agenda by Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, who returned to power in 2023 for a fourth term. Since then, Fico has pledged to curb what he calls the “supremacy” of NGOs, and he has also targeted independent media. Critics accuse him of attempting to bring these institutions firmly under state control.
The European Commission has strongly criticized an earlier version of the bill, which would have required NGOs to register as “foreign agents.” In its 2024 Rule of Law Report, the Commission warned that such measures could violate EU laws and signaled it may pursue legal action if Slovakia proceeds with the legislation.
Fico’s government claims the measure is about promoting transparency. However, many see it as a thinly veiled attack on civil society.
“The original proposal was clearly incompatible with EU law — as we saw happen with a similar bill in Hungary,” said Ondrej Dostál, a member of parliament from the right-wing Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) party. “So instead, they’ve resorted to more indirect, yet still damaging, methods to undermine NGOs.”
Dostál warned that the bill goes far beyond mere technicalities. “It’s designed to stigmatize NGOs, painting them in a negative light and discouraging their operation in Slovakia,” he said.
The political battle over the bill highlights growing tensions in the EU over the rule of law, transparency, and the role independent organizations play in upholding democratic principles.
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