Beyond attempts to copy ‘foreign agent’ laws seen in other countries, Slovak authorities are deploying a well-worn playbook to villainise those who hold them to account. Robert Fico and his minister of interior have gone so far as to accuse civil society groups of plotting a “state coup”. The hostility
Katarina Medlova
The environment for human rights defenders, though rarely favourable in Slovakia, is getting worse.
Pressure against NGOs has only mounted since Robert Fico’s government re-gained power in 2023, making no disguise of its intention to target what it deems to be “political” NGOs.
In a policy statement the government went so far as to say that it “cannot accept that politically-motivated entities often funded from abroad influence democratic political competition in a non-transparent manner”.
Inspired by the harmful NGO laws being introduced in a few other countries in the region that are clamping downs on civil society, the Slovak government quickly followed suit and proposed its own so-called foreign agents law – its name was later changed to the amendment to the act on non-profit organisations – due to public outcry.
Deemed by human rights groups as a way to control, stigmatise and crush their activities, it was pronounced as unconstitutional by the Slovak Constitutional Court in December 2025, which ruled that it infringed on the right to privacy of supporters and placed unreasonable administrative burdens for NGOs that can lead to or even constitute harassment.
Just a few weeks after the ruling, prime minister Robert Fico ordered state authorities to use all existing control mechanisms that they have to conduct NGO audits.
More than half of the NGOs surveyed in a new Amnesty International briefing reported state inspections are already stricter than in previous five years.
Beyond attempts to copy ‘foreign agent’ laws seen in other countries with the shrinking space for civil societies, state authorities are deploying a well-worn playbook to villainise those who hold them to account.
Fico and the minister of interior have gone so far as to accuse civil society groups of plotting a “state coup”. The hostility extends to minority rights as well, with the minister of culture publicly disparaging LGBTI human rights defenders and branding them a “malignant ideology” and stating they will “no longer receive a cent”.
“It had been clear since the election campaign that Fico had targeted civil society as one of the entities he had decided to attack and restrict,” a Slovak human rights defender told Amnesty International, describing the increasingly dangerous environment for NGOs in the country.
A new briefing published last week by Amnesty International Slovakia, Human rights defenders under the weight of attacks: Continuing erosion of civic space, brings direct testimonies of 13 human rights defenders and survey responses of over 120 Slovak NGOs working in human rights advocacy, minority protection, environment or social affairs.
In addition to ongoing harmful rhetoric and stigmatisation by state authorities, human rights activists talk about growing financial insecurity and online and even physical attacks by the public that add more blows to an already narrowed civic space.
As many as 35 percent of NGOs surveyed by Amnesty International reported that they and their employees or members face online harassment, including cyberbullying, doxxing, hacking and smear campaigns. A further 18 percent reported having faced physical attacks against them or their offices.
Some see a direct link between public attacks and the hostile atmosphere created by government officials. This includes verbal attacks from highest levels of power that systematically undermine civil society and harm the entire sector.
UN sits up
Even UN Special Procedure mandate holders (independent human rights experts appointed by the UN Human Rights Council), who rarely comment on the human rights situation in Slovakia, took notice.
In March 2025, they issued a warning about the deterioration of fundamental freedoms and civic space in the country, underlining the stifling of and increasing pressure on NGOs, media and peaceful protesters by the state authorities.
The government’s policies and rhetoric continue to create a chilling effect on associations.
Some NGOs no longer even try to apply for state funding, believing themselves to be on a “blacklist” due to the causes they champion. This is not out of an abundance of caution but underpinned by warnings such as that issued by the current minister of culture, Martina Šimkovičová, who declared that LGBTI+ groups will “no longer receive a cent” from the state budget.
For human rights to flourish in Slovakia, the authorities must reverse their course. Instead of targeting and stigmatising civil society, they must recognise their obligation to protect and promote the rights of all people, including marginalised groups.
They must act to ensure that human rights defenders and civil society actors can carry out their activities in a favourable and safe environment without fear of persecution, repression or intimidation, in accordance with international human rights law and standards.
Despite the deteriorating conditions they face, NGOs in Slovakia have shown remarkable resilience and courage.
In a country where civil society continues to be under systematic attack, this unwavering resolve deserves all the solidarity and support the world can give.
