Slovakian media outlets that spread pro-Russian narratives confirmed to be receiving government subsidies under PM Robert Fico

At least two Slovakian media outlets previously criticized for spreading pro-Russian propaganda are receiving financial support from the country’s government. These outlets also offer a platform to Prime Minister Robert Fico and other officials, allowing their statements go unchallenged, according to a report by Czech outlet Seznam Zprávy, citing the Slovak disinformation watchdog project Hoaxy a podvody (lit. “Hoaxes and Frauds”).

The funds — two allocations of ten thousand euros — are expected to come directly from the prime minister’s budgetary reserve. Officially, the money is designated as a contribution to two civic associations — Verbina (for employing a person with disabilities) and Heuréka evolution (for the renovation of buildings).

In practice, however, the likely end beneficiaries of these subsidies are two pro-government media outlets — Hlavné správy and Hlavný denník, according to analysts from Hoaxy a podvody. Both outlets regularly publish content echoing Russian propaganda, including articles critical of the Ukrainian government and sympathetic to Russia’s position in the ongoing war.

Examples of such content include stories about alleged “biolabs” in Ukraine, claims that a “fascist regime” is in power in Kyiv, and accusations that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is “illegitimate” and that he is attempting to “drag NATO into the war.” Ukraine is also referred to as “country 404” — a derogatory term widely used in pro-Kremlin Telegram channels. (The term is a play on the internet error message “404 Not Found,” implying that Ukraine is a failed state, nonexistent, or no longer functioning as a legitimate country.)

Hlavné správy has also published articles by journalist Bohuš Garbar, who was accused of spying for Russia. In March 2022, a video surfaced showing Garbar receiving a cash payment in euros from the acting military attaché of the Russian Embassy in Slovakia.

The outlets also publish favorable coverage of incumbent Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico and his government (1, 2, 3), and frequently cite Russian state propaganda media outlets such as Sputnik (1).

Analysts from the Kremlin Watch and Infosecurity.sk projects cited by Seznam Zprávy have indicated that both Hlavné správy and Hlavný denník are part of a network of pro-Russian disinformation media.

Following the publication of the investigation, Hlavný denník released an article on its website responding to the report. The piece was titled “Venované liberálnej mediálnej čvarge” — which translates literally as “Dedicated to the Liberal Media Scum.” The authors deny receiving subsidies from either the Slovak government or from Russia.