Last year, the Government Office prepared a communications campaign titled "I Respect a Different Opinion". (source: Facebook - Government Office)
The Government Office is preparing to disburse public funds to several civic associations linked to websites known for spreading disinformation and pro-Kremlin propaganda, according to an official document submitted for cabinet discussion on Wednesday.
The government acknowledged the document, effectively taking note of the plan without objections or amendments.
The document, prepared by Juraj Gedra, head of the Government Office and a close ally of Prime Minister Robert Fico, lists several non-governmental organisations (NGOs) set to receive financial support from the prime minister’s discretionary budget. Among them are two associations directly connected to the websites Hlavné správy and Hlavný denník — both widely regarded as major players in Slovakia’s disinformation ecosystem.
The project Hoaxy a podvody, which monitors and analyses the spread of false information, raised the alarm over the proposal. It highlighted that the two NGOs — Heuréka Evolution and Verbina — are behind online platforms that were temporarily blocked by the previous government following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, due to their role in promoting Kremlin-aligned narratives.
Some of the projects supported by PM Fico (source: Government Office)
According to the government proposal, Heuréka Evolution is to receive €10,000 for the reconstruction of its premises. Verbina, the publisher of Hlavný denník, has also been allocated €10,000, nominally to support the employment of a person with a physical disability.
Critics argue the funding is anything but charitable. Both Hlavné správy and Hlavný denník are listed on Konspiratori.sk, a watchdog platform that evaluates the reliability of online media. The former scores 8.6 out of 10 for problematic content; the latter even higher. These sites routinely publish misinformation, undermine trust in public institutions and amplify narratives favourable to Russia.
Some of the projects supported by PM Fico (source: Government Office)
“These are not innocent alternative voices,” said Hoaxy a podvody. “Direct financial support for sources that actively work against the security interests of the Slovak Republic is an act of national betrayal.”
This is not the first time such associations have courted controversy. Hlavné správy previously employed a contributor who was caught receiving money from a representative of the Russian embassy. For a time, Hlavný denník also featured contributions from Petra Demková, a close associate of Culture Minister Martina Šimkovičová, according to Denník N. Following the 2023 elections, Demková was appointed director of communications at the Culture Ministry.
The proposed list of recipients includes another controversial name: Dav Dva, a civic association historically tied to nationalist MP Roman Michelko of the Slovak National Party, according to the daily Sme. Dav Dva is to receive €5,000 for the publication of an annual review. The organisation also runs its own disinformation site and a successor project, Denník VV, which emerged after an internal split.
Government officials, particularly from the ruling Smer party, have long lent legitimacy to disinformation platforms — not only by granting interviews but also by allowing their staff into press conferences. Following the 2023 elections, Gedra led efforts to disband teams previously tasked with strategic communication, claiming that they were “political activists” enforcing “the correct opinion”.
The government has yet to respond to the growing criticism. Gedra, who proposed the financial support, declined to comment when contacted by Denník N. Gedra, previously an obscure government staffer, has become increasingly vocal in criticising independent media and NGOs. His actions mark a sharp reversal from the stance of previous administrations, which treated Kremlin-aligned disinformation as a national security threat.
Other budget allocations include €10,000 for La Gioia Under the Stars, a concert event featuring the La Gioia opera trio, which regularly performs at rallies organised by PM Fico’s Smer party. The prime minister will also allocate €10,000 to a hockey club in his hometown of Topoľčany and €5,000 to a hunting association to purchase a multi-functional lawn mower.
