Slovak authorities have accused the Georgian Legion of involvement in recent protests against Prime Minister Robert Fico’s government, which have been driven by concerns over democratic backsliding, corruption, media restrictions, and its pro-Russian policies, including the reduction of military aid to Ukraine.
The Georgian Legion is a paramilitary unit formed in 2014 to support Ukraine in its fight against Russian-backed separatists in Donbas. Comprised mainly of Georgian volunteers, it is led by Mamuka Mamulashvili. The unit opposes Russian influence and aligns with pro-Western movements.
The accusations primarily stem from Slovak Member of the European Parliament Erik Kaliňák, who alleged that the Legion had trained provocateurs to escalate tensions. As evidence, he cited meetings with officials in Georgia, where similar allegations have surfaced, with Georgian state security services investigating volunteers returning from Ukraine for alleged coup plots.
Fico and Kaliňák are both members of Direction, a social-democratic, conservative party. Under Fico’s leadership, the Slovak government has criticized the EU and NATO, reduced military aid to Ukraine, opposed sanctions on Russia, and called for closer ties with Moscow.
Despite this ambiguity toward Russia, allegations of the Georgian Legion’s involvement in Slovak protests lack concrete evidence, and if true, its motives remain unclear: Mamulashvili denied any connection to the protests, stating he has no ties to Slovak opposition figures.
The Georgian governing party, also accused of being close to Moscow, has framed these narratives as threats to national stability, justifying a stronger response from authorities and discrediting those accused—a stance echoed by Slovakia’s leadership.