Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has stated that his planned visit to Moscow is linked to paying respect to Red Army soldiers.

Axar.az reports, citing Russian media, Fico emphasized that his visit is not connected to the current political situation.

“My visit to Moscow has nothing to do with the current political situation,” Fico said. “If tens of thousands of people died during the liberation of our country, is it really a problem for me to go and lay carnations at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier of the Red Army?”

He noted that around 60,000 Red Army soldiers died in the process of liberating Slovakia during World War II.

Fico also stressed that he does not plan to attend any military parade.

“I did not attend the military parade last year, and I do not plan to attend it this year either. But it is very important to pay respect to the soldiers who liberated our country,” he said.

The Slovak prime minister added that after his visit to Moscow, he plans to attend commemorative events in Normandy marking the 82nd anniversary of the opening of the Second Front.

He also reaffirmed that historical memory should not be ignored despite current geopolitical tensions in Europe.