The manifestations underscore a renewed resolve to defend not just domestic democracy, but also the transatlantic bonds that have sustained Ukraine’s fight for sovereignty. Thousands of Czechs and Slovaks gathered on 17 November to mark the 36th anniversary of the Velvet Revolution – the peaceful uprising that toppled communist rule in Czechoslovakia in 1989 -blending celebrations of hard-won freedoms with protests against perceived threats to democratic institutions and unwavering support for Ukraine amid Russia’s ongoing invasion.
The events, held across Prague, Bratislava, and other cities, featured traditional candlelight vigils, street concerts, and exhibitions, but this year drew particular attention to leaders’ pro-Russian leanings and proposals to curtail military assistance to Kyiv, which protesters decried as a betrayal of the revolution’s pro-Western legacy.
The former Czechoslovakia, which split amicably in 1993, has since aligned firmly with the European Union and NATO, but demonstrators warned that populist governments in both nations risk reversing this trajectory, especially by undermining solidarity with Ukraine.
Slovakia’s “Chalk Revolution” escalates against Fico’s pro-Russian pivot
In Slovakia, tens of thousands braved heavy rain to pack Bratislava’s Freedom Square and other urban centres for rallies organized by opposition parties, civic groups, and student activists, under the banner of the ongoing “Chalk Revolution” – a youth-led movement using sidewalk chalk drawings of Ukrainian flags and anti-war symbols to challenge Prime Minister Robert Fico’s policies.
Protesters waved Ukrainian flags alongside Slovak and EU banners, chanting “Enough of Fico” and “Freedom is not a gift but a right,” while decrying what they called a slide toward authoritarianism and Moscow’s influence.
Fico, a former communist serving his fourth term, has deepened ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin, including multiple meetings and public endorsements of Moscow’s narrative on the Ukraine war.
Just days before the anniversary, Fico ignited fresh outrage during a school visit in Poprad, where students jingled keys in protest – a nod to the Velvet Revolution’s iconic sound. Dismissing their support for EU aid to Ukraine, which he falsely claimed would total €140 billion to “prolong the war,” Fico retorted: “If you’re such heroes in black T-shirts and support the war so much, then go fight there.”
The prime minister has also dismantled a special anti-corruption unit, imposed greater state control over public media, and targeted NGOs and cultural institutions deemed “hostile,” echoing tactics from the communist era.
Opposition leader Jaroslav Nad of the Democrats party told the crowd in Bratislava: “Fico attacks independent institutions, culture, media… exactly like the communists did. Fico is dragging us away from the democratic world.”
Fico defends his approach as safeguarding national sovereignty and correcting “injustices” from prior governments, while pushing for “peace talks” in Ukraine that critics say align with Kremlin demands.
Czech protests target Babiš’s coalition and Ukraine aid cuts
Across the border in the Czech Republic, several thousand demonstrators converged on Prague’s Old Town Square for the “Czechia is Not for Sale” rally, hoisting Czech, EU, and Ukrainian flags while performing the revolution’s signature key-jingling to symbolize awakening from political complacency.
The event, organized by the Million Moments for Democracy movement, honoured the 1989 police crackdown on students along Narodni Avenue – now lined with candles and exhibitions – but pivoted sharply to critique billionaire Andrej Babiš, whose ANO party secured victory in the October 2025 parliamentary elections.
Babiš, a Slovak-born former prime minister and self-proclaimed “Trumpist,” is negotiating a coalition with the far-right Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD) party – staunchly anti-EU and anti-NATO – and the EU-skeptic Motorists for Themselves group, finalized on 3 November.
Protesters accused the alliance of prioritizing “mafia principles” over transparency, with SPD leader Tomio Okamura – himself on trial for inciting hatred – potentially shielding Babiš from scrutiny over his Agrofert conglomerate’s receipt of EU subsidies.
“We have freedom and I don’t want to lose it,” said 19-year-old student
Central to the outcry was Babiš’s ambiguous stance on Ukraine, where the Czech Republic has been a key ally, spearheading a landmark initiative to procure over a million artillery shells for Kyiv since 2023. Incoming Foreign Minister Filip Turek signaled plans to “slash” military aid, calling current levels unsustainable and prioritizing domestic needs – a move the outgoing government branded a “Christmas gift” to Putin.
The ammunition program now hangs in limbo, with fears it could collapse under the new coalition’s “Czechia first” mantra, despite Babiš’s recent call with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to reassure continuity.
Demonstrators also slammed proposals for tighter state oversight of public media and NGO funding, which they linked to suppressing pro-Ukraine voices.
Babiš has pledged to resolve conflicts of interest upon taking office but clashed with pro-Western President Petr Pavel, a former NATO general, who insists on public clarification before appointing the government.