A pro-Russian group says 450,000 want to end Russia sanctions

A pro-Russian biker group in Slovakia has launched a fresh campaign against Western sanctions, delivering a petition to the presidential office on Tuesday demanding their repeal. However, doubts persist over the legitimacy of their claimed 450,000 signatures.

The group, Brat za Brata (Brother for Brother), argues that EU sanctions against Russia harm ordinary Slovaks, yet they have failed to substantiate their claims. They have talked about higher gas prices, but gas is not subject to anti-Russian sanctions. While their petition does not constitute a formal request for a referendum, they insist that politicians should take it seriously.

The Presidential Palace acknowledged receipt but offered no further comment.

Fraudulent signatures

Concerns over the petition’s validity deepened when former group member Rastislav Bočan alleged widespread forgery, claiming many signatures were duplicated or collected from marginalised communities without proper verification. Brat za Brata leader Matúš Alexa admitted on Tuesday that some signatures might be fraudulent but insisted they had gathered a “significant buffer”.

Legal experts stress that Slovakia cannot unilaterally abandon EU sanctions.

Meanwhile, divisions within Slovakia’s pro-Russian movement have also surfaced. Alexa refused to collaborate with rival nationalist groups, who in turn questioned his signature count. Pavel Slota, leader of the nationalist party Domov (Homeland), ridiculed Alexa’s claim of 450,000 signatures.

In fact, less than 6,000 people signed the petition online. Alexa claims that most of the support for the petition was gathered through direct visits.

Despite Alexa’s assertions of widespread support, turnout at the group’s events remains meagre. Bočan dismissed Alexa’s claim that he speaks for the “Slovak nation”, pointing out that Brat za Brata has only a few dozen active members.

Partisan cells

The group has also drawn scrutiny for its talk of forming “partisan cells” across Slovakia. Initially framed as a movement for “cleansing Slovakia”, Alexa has since backtracked, now claiming that these units are purely for charity work.

In January, Alexa, who is on excellent terms with the Russian embassy in Bratislava, appeared on Russia’s state-controlled Rossiya 1, where he announced a campaign for Slovakia’s withdrawal from the European Union.

He has also threatened local councillors in Košice after they spoke out against a Soviet monument in the city centre, suggesting that he and his group could visit the councillors’ family graves in response to their stance.