Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico Shot Multiple Times, in Critical Condition

Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico Shot Multiple Times in Assassination Attempt

Slovakia was left in shock as Prime Minister Robert Fico was shot multiple times in a life-threatening attack in the town of Handlova. The 59-year-old pro-Russian leader was left in an “extraordinarily serious” condition after being shot in the abdomen, according to Defense Minister Robert Kalina.

The shooting took place as Fico emerged from a government meeting, with at least four shots fired outside a cultural center. A suspect was quickly detained at the scene, with Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok describing the incident as having a “clear political motivation.”

Fico, who has served as Prime Minister for a total of about 10 years, has been a divisive figure in Slovakia and beyond. His return to power last year on a pro-Russian, anti-American message raised concerns among European Union members about the country’s direction.

The shooting comes just weeks before crucial European Union Parliament elections, with reactions pouring in from Slovak, U.S., and European leaders. Slovak President Zuzana Caputova condemned the attack as an assault on democracy, while President Biden expressed alarm and offered prayers for Fico’s recovery.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg and European leaders, including Hungary’s Viktor Orbán and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, also condemned the attack. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, currently facing a Russian invasion, called for efforts to prevent violence from becoming the norm.

Fico’s opposition to Western nations supplying weapons to Ukraine for defense against Russia has been a point of contention. The motive behind the assassination attempt remains unclear, but the incident has sent shockwaves through Slovakia and Europe as a whole.