Fico is between life and death after assassination attempt
17 May 2024 14:58
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has said that his Slovak counterpart Robert Fico is “on the verge of life and death” after the assassination attempt on 15 May. This was reported by Reuters.
“We are praying for the prime minister and worried about Slovakia. We wish him a speedy recovery and return to work. Robert Fico is between life and death,”
– orban said.
According to him, even if Fico recovers, he will remain unemployed for several months ahead of the European Parliament elections to be held early next month.
“We are facing elections that will decide not only the members of the European Parliament, but the course of war and peace in Europe. In this situation, we would really need Robert Fico and a peaceful Slovakia,”
– orban added.
What is known about the assassination attempt on Fico
On Wednesday, 15 May, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico was wounded in a shooting after a government meeting.
The incident took place in the town of Handlova, located 150 km from Bratislava. The shooting took place in front of the building where Fico was meeting with his supporters. According to witnesses who were at the scene, the prime minister approached the people who were greeting him, and that’s when several shots were fired. After that, the head of government fell to the ground.
It was noted that he had received multiple life-threatening injuries.
Later, Slovak Deputy Prime Minister Tomas Taraba said that the operation went well and Fico’s life was not in danger.
The Minister of Internal Affairs of Slovakia, Matusz Szutai Estok, said that the police are currently working with only one possibility of motives for the attack on Prime Minister Robert Fico – attempted murder.
Slovakia has charged 71-year-old Juraj Cintula, who is suspected of attacking Fico. He faces 25 years to life in prison.
Later it became known that the attacker could have been linked to the pro-Russian paramilitary group Slovenskí Branci.
