Attacks on NGOs continue: Hungary, Slovakia, Russia

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico is following the example set by Russia and Hungary in attacking non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in his country. As in Hungary, Slovak NGOs must disclose their foreign sources of funding under the new 'transparency' law. The term 'foreign agent' has been removed from the current law. Nevertheless, critics insist that this is the Slovakian version of the Russian law.

On Balkaninsight, those affected report that “the state is using the legislation to intimidate organizations that work with the most vulnerable people.” Prime Minister Robert Fico had promised to “bring order to the NGOs” and emphasized that the law was in line with European values. “It has nothing to do with Russia,” he explained. Fico recently appeared at CPAC Hungary in Budapest.

Russia recently banned Amnesty International from operating in the country.

In Hungary, Peter Magyar, leader of the opposition Tisza Party, has emerged as a serious opponent for Orbán. The Tisza (Tisztelet és Szabadság Párt, Respect and Freedom Party), which belongs to the European People's Party (EPP) group, has overtaken the ruling Fidesz in the polls for the first time one year before the 2026 elections. Orbán is responding, as always, by suppressing his critics. His so-called “transparency law” threatens the existence of NGOs under the pretext that their work is a threat to national sovereignty and is funded from abroad. Hungarian civil society responded to Orbán's plans with demonstrations and an appeal from more than 320 NGOs, which can be read here. Another statement by the Civil Liberties Union for Europe can be found here.

The two members of the European Parliament, René Aust (AfD) and Harald Vilimsky (FPÖ), have jointly launched a platform where the alleged waste of tax money by NGOs can be reported anonymously: 'NGO-Filz aufdecken!' ('Expose NGO corruption!') This is another example of the AfD faction's cooperation with the Patriots for Europe.

Redaction: Ulli Jentsch