Fico has not been seen in public since a high-profile visit to Moscow almost two weeks ago. The Slovak PM held talks with Vladimir Putin amid a spat between Bratislava and Kyiv over the cessation of Russian gas transits through Ukraine.

Despite the disappearance of the head of government, crowds gathered in the capital on Friday in protest at Fico’s policies, in particular his meeting with the Russian president.

The demonstration was organized by the Peace for Ukraine activist group, which argues that Slovakia is part of the European Union and that Fico’s Moscow trip undermined the country’s standing in the bloc.

Protesters held banners reading ‘We are Europe’ and ‘Traitor’ and chanted slogans including ‘We will not be silent,’ ‘We will not give up Slovakia,’ and ‘Down with Fico,’ the Polish Press Agency reported.

Meanwhile, local media have been trying to locate Fico. Dennik N reported that one video of the prime minister may have been recorded at the luxury Capella hotel in Hanoi, Vietnam. The paper phoned the hotel and asked to be put through to the Madame Butterfly suite where Fico is rumored to be staying, however there was no answer.