What Is Known So Far About the Assassination Attempt on Robert Fico

Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico was shot yesterday in an assassination attempt in the central Slovak town of Handlova.

According to local media reports, the suspected gunman was part of a small gathering of individuals awaiting the Prime Minister’s arrival on the street outside the House of Culture, where a government meeting had convened.

The individual believed to be the gunman then extends over the barrier, holding a gun. Five gunshots are heard.

Fico was rushed to a nearby hospital and subsequently transported by helicopter to a trauma center approximately 30 kilometers away in Banská Bystrica. Officials confirmed that no one else sustained injuries during the attack.

We gathered the latest updates on the situation.

Fico’s Health Condition

Contrary to initial reports indicating Fico had sustained five gunshot wounds, subsequent updates clarified that he had been shot by three bullets.

During the news conference outside the hospital, the country’s Defense Minister Robert Kaliňák and Interior Minister Matúš Šutaj revealed that Fico was “fighting for his life” following the shooting and had undergone three and a half hours of surgery at that point.

Later in the evening, Slovakian Deputy Prime Minister Tomáš Taraba expressed an optimistic take, stating that he believed the Prime Minister would survive after successful surgery, adding that Fico was “not in a life-threatening situation at this moment.”

Taraba informed the BBC that Fico “suffered severe injuries,” with one bullet passing through his stomach and another hitting his joints.

What Is Known About the Shooter?

Both the country’s Defense Minister Robert Kaliňák and Interior Minister Matúš Šutaj Eštok labeled the shooting as “politically motivated,” with Šutaj Eštok indicating that “the suspect made the decision to do it shortly after the presidential election.”

According to Slovak media, the detained suspect is a 71-year-old writer and political activist Juraj Cintula from Léva city. He wrote three books of poetry and is a member of the Slovak Writers’ Association. Previously, he was a security guard in a shopping center and had a permit to carry weapons.

In 2015, Mr. Cintula initiated the establishment of the campaign group Against Violence with the aim of securing official registration in Slovakia. A petition circulated by him emphasized the notion that violence often emerges as a reaction stemming from ordinary dissatisfaction with prevailing circumstances. The petition urged for constructive dissent, advocating, “Let’s be dissatisfied, but not violent.”

The Hungarian investigative journalist Szabolcs Panyi wrote on X that the suspect may allegedly have ties to a pro-Russian militarised group.

So far there is little official information about the suspect. The article will be updated as soon as more information is revealed.

International Reaction

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy denounced the attack on Slovakia’s Prime Minister.

“We strongly condemn this act of violence against our neighboring partner state’s head of government. Every effort should be made to ensure that violence does not become the norm in any country, form, or sphere. We sincerely hope Robert Fico recovers soon and express our solidarity with the people of Slovakia,” wrote Zelenskyy.

Czech President Petr Pavel stated that the attack on Fico “is unequivocally reprehensible, whatever the motivation.” Adding “It should be a warning to us about how far the deepening of animosity and aggression in society can lead.”