Slovak PM Robert Fico and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin on January 24, 2024. (source: TASR)
While Hlas party leader and Speaker Peter Pellegrini criticised MEPs for a resolution critical of the Slovak government from last week in Brussels, Smer leader and Prime Minister Robert Fico asked German Chancellor Olaf Scholz during his Wednesday visit to Berlin to remove pro-Kremlin Slovak entrepreneur Jozef Hambálek from the EU sanctions list.
He was put on the list in July 2022. The first Slovak on the list, his assets are frozen and cannot leave Slovakia.
“Hambálek hasn’t harmed anyone. He’s just a motorbike lover,” Fico said. “He’s done nothing that would harm Slovakia. This man has lost everything.”
Hambálek heads the European branch of the pro-Russian Night Wolves biker gang and supports Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Just a day before the invasion, which began on February 24 of 2022, Hambálek also met with the Russian ambassador. In addition, he allegedly trained Night Wolves members for active combat in Ukraine.
