The demonstrators gathered in cities of Slovakia to condemn the legislation approved by the Parliament which, according to them, could slow down the free expression and hinder the work of non -governmental organizations.
The demonstrators at Freedom Square in the capital Bratislava compared the measure to the law of the “foreign agent” of Russia, which was criticized as a repressive, before going to the presidential palace to urge President Peter Pellegrini to oppose his veto to the bill.
“No to Russian law,” they sang, and “Slovakia is Europe”.
Parliament adopted the measure on April 17 and is supported by Prime Minister Robert Fico, who frequently attacked NGOs.
Pellegrini, an ally of Fico, did not comment on the bill, although he recently called into question some of Fico's policies.
He has until May 2 to examine the legislation.
The measure would require, among other things, that NGOs publish reports with details on their leaders and all donors who have contributed more than € 5,000 per year.
The government says the measure will make funding and functioning of civil groups more transparent.
An analysis of Via Iuris, a non -profit organization, said that the law violated the Constitution, including the right to privacy, freedom of expression and the right to associate freely, as well as the rules of the European Union.
Its objective is to “stigmatize and limit the activities of civic groups”, says the group.
The rallies in Bratislava and five other cities are part of a wave of demonstrations fueled by Fico's trip to Moscow in December for interviews with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Fico plans to go to Moscow again for a military parade of May 9 To mark the 80th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany during the Second World War.
No other leader in the European Union has announced such a plan.
Demonstrations in 20 other places across Slovakia and abroad are scheduled for Friday, the organizers said.
Fico, which is a figure of division in the country and abroad, returned to power in 2003 after its leftist party (management) won a parliamentary election on a pro-Russian and anti-US platform.
ADVERTISEMENTHis government has passed the revision of public broadcasting to give the government control of public television and radio.
This, with an amendment to the penal code to eliminate an anti-grafting prosecutor, criticism say that proof of Slovakia has led to Slovakia on a more autocratic path.
