The Slovakian prime minister, Robert Fico, has rejected calls for his resignationafter tens of thousands demonstrated against his government’s policy shift closer to Russia.

About 60,000 people protested in the capital, Bratislava, on Friday and approximately 100,000 turned out for rallies in cities across the country, the largest demonstrations since Fico returned to power in 2023.

Similar protests were seen in 2018, when the murder of an investigative journalist caused mass demonstrations and forced Fico’s resignation.

The latest protests came after Fico privately travelled to Moscow in December to meet the Russian president, Vladimir Putin.

“The government can only be changed if there are elections,” Fico said in an interview with the public broadcaster on Saturday when asked about the protests.

Fico’s leftist-nationalist administration accused progressive opponents this week of planning to escalate protests in an attempt to overthrow the government illegally. Opposition parties and civic groups rejected the accusations.

Critics say the prime minister’s ruling coalition is weakening democratic values and shifting foreign policy away from EU and Nato allies and closer to Russia.

The civic group Mier Ukrajine (Peace to Ukraine), which organised Friday’s protests, will hold more demonstrations on 7 February.

Fico defended his government’s foreign policy and said it sought good ties with all sides. Despite being critical of some EU policies he said policy was still determined by EU and Nato membership.