Slovak PM threatens to block EU sanctions against Russia if they harm national interests
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has threatened to block any EU sanctions on Russia that harm Slovakia's national interests.
Source: Reuters, as reported by European Pravda
Details: Fico stressed that Slovakia seeks to remain a constructive EU member but described a resolution passed by the Slovak parliament, urging the government not to support any new sanctions against Russia, as a political tool with a strong message.
Quote: "If there is a sanction that would harm us, I will never vote for it."
More details: Fico also said he could not support any measures aimed at halting imports of Russian fuel for Slovakia's nuclear power plants.
"I am interested in being a constructive player in the European Union, but not at the expense of Slovakia," he added.
Background:
On 5 June, Slovakia's parliament adopted a resolution urging government members to withhold support for new sanctions and trade restrictions against Russia in international organisations.
On 4 June, Slovak President Peter Pellegrini rejected a petition calling for a referendum on lifting sanctions against Russia.
In March, Fico threatened to block further European sanctions against Russia if he views them as jeopardising the peaceful settlement of the war in Ukraine.
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'Most aliens who illegally entered the United States within the past two years are subject to expedited removals. Biden ignored this legal fact and chose to release millions of illegal aliens, including violent criminals, into the country with a notice to appear before an immigration judge. ICE is now following the law and placing these illegal aliens in expedited removal, as they always should have been,' the department said in a statement. 'If they have a valid credible fear claim, they will continue in immigration proceedings, but if no valid claim is found, aliens will be subject to a swift deportation.' Goldman also criticized ICE for using plainclothes officers, saying that in his observations, agents had printed out photos of those they would be arresting and were often wearing masks. 'When I asked them, 'Why are you wearing a mask?' One person told me, 'Because it's cold.' I asked him if he would testify to that under oath, and he walked away and wouldn't respond to me,' he said. 'Another person admitted that they were wearing masks so that they are not caught on video. And my question to them is: 'If what you are doing is legitimate, is lawful, is totally aboveboard, why do you need to cover your face?'' Schmiechen said she's working quickly to explore other options for Aliaksandr Baluty, including requesting that his credible fear claims be reviewed by an immigration court judge. If that doesn't work, she's planning to make a filing in federal court. 'I just feel like we don't have much time at this point,' she said. To Vadzim Baluty, the whole episode has chilling parallels with what he experienced in Belarus. 'This is how it began,' he said. The arrest of his son, just feet from the courthouse doors, happened in less than 60 seconds and left him in shock. He said he never imagined the words 'stop prosecution' could have led to 'expulsion from the country and separation of father and son.' 'Everything is starting to remind us that we are not in a free country. What is happening today is vaguely reminiscent of the birth of a dictatorship, when they categorically begin to solve the political issue at the moment with immigration,' he said. 'I don't feel safe now. None of the immigrants feel safe in the U.S.'
