UK communication agency rejects Slovakian premier's claim of meddling in 2023 election
Zinc Network 'strongly' dismisses allegations, saying it is proud to have supported civil society organizations in Slovakia to 'deliver a voter education campaign'
Members of the mobile electoral commission transport the mobile ballot box during the early parliamentary elections of the Slovak National Council, inside the Louis Pasteur University Hospital in Kosice, Slovakia on September 30, 2023.
LONDON
A UK-based communications agency rejected the Slovakian prime minister's claim that Britain interfered in the 2023 elections through the agency.
Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico claimed earlier this week that there was "a targeted deliberate action by a foreign power, which is our ally in NATO, to influence the internal democratic processes of the Slovak Republic."
Slovakia summoned the British ambassador to Bratislava for an explanation after accusing the UK of secretly interfering with the country's 2023 parliamentary elections.
According to Fico, the alleged campaign included Slovak political activists, social media influencers, and journalists.
Slovak media reported this week that the alleged campaign was carried out by the London-based Zinc Network media agency using YouTube influencers to support the Progressive Slovakia (PS) opposition party while undermining Fico's ruling party, Smer-SD.
Earlier in July, Declassified UK, an investigative news portal, claimed that Zinc Network worked for the British Foreign Office in a deal worth nearly £10 million (approximately $13.2 million).
According to Declassified, a former employee described Zinc's campaign as "state propaganda" and accused it of interfering with foreign elections.
It was also reported that Whitehall officials provide "feedback" on each video before allowing influencers to publish it.
The UK Foreign Office dismissed as "completely untrue" allegations from Slovakia's premier that it meddled in the country's 2023 election.
Meanwhile, Zinc Network "strongly" rejected the allegations, stating that it is proud to have supported civil society organizations in Slovakia to “deliver a voter education campaign.”
“We are aware of recent media coverage that attempts to misrepresent this campaign and undermine the efforts of our civil society partners," the agency told Polish broadcaster TVP World.
The response added: "We strongly reject this characterization. We continue to support civil society's defense of democracy and freedom of expression."
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