Exposing the Fake: There is no "Coup" in Slovakia, but there is an attempt to sow fear

Factcheck

On January 30, 2025, the CTVBY channel aired a report titled: “The Ukrainian Trace in the Protests in Slovakia! #politics #fico #ukraine #protests #riots #news”. This video quickly gained over 300,000 views. It stated:

Experts note the similarity between the events in Slovakia and the Ukrainian Maidan, as these scenarios have the same scriptwriters. Referring to counterintelligence data, Robert Fico (the current Prime Minister of Slovakia) claimed that a coup was being prepared in the country with the involvement of foreign experts. However, judging by official statements, Slovakia does not intend to follow Ukraine’s fate. Still, the West will not leave Bratislava alone so easily. The temptation to restore its reputation after the failed coup in Georgia is too great.

Our verdict based on conducted analyses:

Verdict: Incorrect

  • The thesis or claim is entirely false: information from multiple sources or expert opinions in the relevant field contradicts it.
  • Cause-and-effect relationships do not exist as claimed.
  • Key parts are omitted, rearranged, altered, or mistranslated when quoted, fundamentally changing the meaning of the statement.
  • The event occurred in significantly different ways than stated.

  • Fact-checking rating scale

    Full video:

    Conducted analysis of disinformation narratives and semantic analysis:

    Narrative Analysis
    Risk Level: High
    Anti-Ukrainian Narrative

    The claim that protests in Slovakia were organized with the involvement of Ukrainian experts, creating a negative image of Ukraine as a country that fosters destabilization in other states.

    fact distortion

    emotional provocation

    concept substitution

    Confidence: 85%
    Conspiratorial Narrative

    References to “foreign experts” and “coup” create an atmosphere of fear and distrust in the government, suggesting hidden manipulations.

    false conclusions

    source manipulation

    fear

    Confidence: 80%
    Anti-Western Narrative

    It implies that the West is attempting to interfere in Slovakia’s affairs, potentially provoking distrust and dissatisfaction toward Western countries.

    dehumanization

    sowing distrust

    Confidence: 75%
    Overall Assessment

    The video contains manipulative narratives that may contribute to disinformation and conflict escalation, creating a negative image of Ukraine and the West while undermining trust in local authorities.

    Emotional Analysis
    Key Topics

    Comparison to the Ukrainian Maidan

    Influence of foreign experts

    Protests in Slovakia

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