BRATISLAVA, Slovakia (AP) — Thousands marched through Slovakia's capital on Thursday before a planned rally in front of parliament to condemn draft legislation that critics consider detrimental for many nongovernmental organizations.
The bill, which is being debated by lawmakers, was approved by the coalition government of populist Prime Minister Robert Fico, who has frequently attacked NGOs.
The organizers of the rally in Bratislava said that the draft legislation looks inspired by Russian law, which they said “makes it possible to liquidate the civil sector and turn into a criminal anyone who is not loyal to those in power.”
They said it's designed to scare and control people who stand up against the government.
The latest version of the draft says that NGOs will be considered lobbyists, but gives no clear definition of what lobbying is, according to an analysis by Via Iuris, a nonprofit organization.
The group said that the draft law violates Slovakia's constitution and European Union rules, and its goal is to “stigmatize and limit the activities of civic groups.”
The government said that the law is meant to make transparent the financing and functioning of civic groups.
Protesters chanted during the march: “No to the Russian law,” and “We wont give up freedom.”
Thursday rallies in Bratislava, No. 2 city Kosice and four other places are part of a wave of protests that was fueled by Fico’s recent trip to Moscow for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
It was a rare visit to the Kremlin by an EU leader since Moscow’s all-out invasion of Ukraine began more than three years ago and his recent remarks that Slovakia might consider leaving the 27-nation EU and NATO.
Protests in about three dozen locations across Slovakia and abroad are planned for Friday.
Fico has been a divisive figure at home and abroad. He returned to power in 2003 after his leftist Smer (Direction) party won a parliamentary election on a pro-Russia and anti-American platform.
His government moved to overhaul public broadcasting to give the government control of public television and radio.
That, along with an amendment to the penal code to eliminate a special anti-graft prosecutor, showed that Fico was leading Slovakia down a more autocratic path, following the direction of Hungary under populist Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.
People march during a protest to condemn a draft legislation that critics consider ”liquidating” for many non-government organisations in Bratislava Thursday, April 3, 2025. (Jaroslav Novák/TASR via AP)
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Jason Robertson had two goals and an assist, and the Dallas Stars beat the Anaheim Ducks 8-3 on Friday night for their third straight win.
Roope Hintz and Thomas Harley each had a goal and an assist, and Oskar Bäck, Sam Steel, Ilya Lybushkin and Adam Erne also scored for the Stars. who are an NHL-best 13-2-4 on the road. Mikko Rantanen and Miro Heiskanen each had two assists, and Casey DeSmith had 23 saves.
Ryan Poehling, Beckett Sennecke and Mikael Granlund scored for the Ducks, who have lost four of five. Lukas Dostal gave up four goals on seven shots before he was pulled with 5:41 left in the first period. Petr Mrazek came on and stopped 14 of the 18 shots he faced the rest of the way.
The Stars' eight-goal output tied a season high, matching their 8-3 win at Edmonton on Nov. 25, and was the most the Ducks have given up.
Bäck gave the Stars a 1-0 lead with a short-handed goal 2:37 into the game after the Ducks turned the puck over behind their net.
Poehling tied it 55 seconds later, scoring in close on the rebound of a point shot by Radko Gudas.
Hintz put Dallas back ahead at 4:42, getting a pass from Robertson in the slot, sliding backwards and firing a shot past Dostal for his 11th.
Steel pushed the Stars' lead to 3-1 with 7:19 left in the first, scoring past Dostal while crashing into the net and dislodging it. The goal was confirmed after a review.
Harley made it a three-goal lead 1:38 later as he got a pass from Rantanen and scored from the right circle.
Robertson scored in front on a power play with 8:50 remaining in the second, and then put a backhander past Mrazek from the right circle 4 minutes later to make it 6-1. It gave Robertson a team-leading 22 goals.
Erne made it a six-goal lead with 1:30 left in the middle period.
After Sennecke pulled the Ducks back within five 1:01 into the third, Lybushkin got his first of the season 41 seconds later to extend the Stars' lead to 8-2. Granlund capped the scoring with 5:38 remaining.
Stars: Host Toronto on Sunday.
Ducks: Host Columbus on Saturday.
AP NHL: https://www.apnews.com/nhl
Anaheim Ducks players celebrate after scoring against the Chicago Blackhawks during the first period of an NHL hockey game Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)
Dallas Stars head coach Glen Gulutzan, standing, reacts behind players during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the San Jose Sharks in San Jose, Calif., Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Dallas Stars defenseman Thomas Harley (55) skates with the puck against the San Jose Sharks during the second period of an NHL hockey game in San Jose, Calif., Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
