Thousands rally in Slovakia in support of protest organizers

BRATISLAVA, Slovakia – Thousands are rallying across Slovakia to condemn police questioning of people who organized recent massive anti-government protests.

Slovaks have repeatedly taken to the streets in great numbers in protests triggered by the slaying of an investigative reporter and his fiancee earlier this year. The protests led to the collapse of a coalition government led by Prime Minister Robert Fico.

Police say they had to act after receiving an anonymous criminal complaint.

Protest organizers say the complaint accused them of attempting to stage a coup and corruption. It also suggested they were paid by U.S. philanthropist George Soros, something that Fico repeatedly alleged.

Organizer Karolina Farska told a crowd of more than 10,000 protesters in Bratislava on Friday that, “We won’t give up.”