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Czech newspaper Denik N cited two unnamed sources as saying
Slovakia's interior ministry had granted Artem Marchevskyi
temporary protection status.
Marchevskyi was placed on a Czech sanctions list in March after
Czech intelligence services said he ran the Czech-registered
Voice of Europe website. Prague said he had used the website to
spread anti-Ukrainian propaganda and disinformation under
instruction from pro-Russian Ukrainian politician Viktor
Medvedchuk.
Reuters was unable immediately to confirm the Denik N report, or
Marchevskyi's status. Marchevskyi could not be reached for
comment.
Slovakia's interior Ministry said in a statement that it had
been dealing with the case along with intelligence services, but
declined further comment. It said it would provide more details
after completing its investigation.
Denik N, in its report published on Tuesday evening, said that
after Prague imposed sanctions on Marchevskyi, he had headed to
Slovakia, where a new government led by Prime Minister Robert
Fico has been warmer to Moscow than its predecessor and has
ended state military support for Ukraine.
After Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022,
Marchevskyi was granted temporary protection in the Czech
Republic as part of European Union efforts to help people
fleeing the fighting.
Czech officials expected him to lose that status 60 days after
his inclusion on the sanctions list, depriving him of EU
residency.
Fico's position on Russia has caused unease among some of
Slovakia's EU allies, especially in central Europe, where the
Czech Republic and Poland have been staunch supporters of
Ukraine during the war.
(Reporting by Jason Hovet, Editing by Timothy Heritage)
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