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SLOVAKIAN Prime Minister Robert Fico is fighting for his life after he was shot five times in a “politically motivated” assassination attempt.
The the PM’s alleged shooter has been named as local man, Juraj Cintula.
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The suspected shooter was seen bloodied as he was dragged away by copsReuters
Security officers helping Fico stand up after the bullets were firedAFPWho is Juraj Cintula?
Local media identified the shooting suspect as Juraj Cintula.
He is a 71-year-old Slovakian man from the town of Lavice and is reportedly a writer.
Following the assassination attempt on Slavakian Prime Minister Robert Fico, pictures showed Cintula with blood pouring from his head.
He was then bundled into a car and taken away by cops.
Why did Juraj Cintula shoot Slovakian PM, Robert Fico?
The motive behind the shooting on May 14, 2024 is not yet known despite many calling it “politically motivated”.
Slovakian president Zuzana Caputova condemned the “brutal and ruthless” attack, calling the shooting on her political partner an “attack on democracy”.
Slovakian interior minister Matus Sutaj Estok labelled the shocking event as the “saddest moment” in Slovakia‘s 31-year history.
He echoed the president’s thoughts saying: “An attack on Slovakia is an attack on democracy, on the state itself.”
Estok also said the preliminary information “clearly” points to a political motivation behind the shooting.
RTV Prievidza
ReutersWhat happened to Slovak PM, Robert Fico?
Horrifying footage captured the moment the Slovakian Prime Minister was shot five times as his security team ran over to grab the shooter.
It happened as the PM – who is married to wife Svetlana Ficova – had come outside to meet with supporters in the town of Handlova.
As Fico shook hands with those being the barriers, he was attacked.
Fortunately as far as I know the operation went well – and I guess in the end he will survive. He’s not in a life threatening situation at this moment.
Slovakia's deputy PM Tomas Taraba.According to the country’s defence minister Robert Kalinak, one bullet hit the PM in his abdomen.
Chilling footage caught the haunting moment gunshots rang out as people screamed at the sight of the stricken PM.
The shooter was stood just feet away from Fico when he launched the brutal assault.
The PM’s bodyguards leapt over the barrier the gunman was hiding behind as they quickly pinned him down to the floor.
More footage showed Fico being carried and bundled into a car, flanked by his bodyguards, and driven away at speed for urgent medical help.
YouTubeWhat happened to Juraj Cintula after he shot Robert Fico?
Following the shooting, Fico was swiftly airlifted to hospital for emergency surgery.
Despite the horror attack, he is expected to survive his injuries, according to Slovakia’s deputy prime minister Tomas Taraba.
It comes after the PM went through a reported three hours worth of urgent surgery after his injuries were labelled as “extraordinarily serious” when he entered hospital.
Taraba said: “Fortunately as far as I know the operation went well – and I guess in the end he will survive.
“He’s not in a life threatening situation at this moment.”
APIt is also unclear what surgery the PM went through and the extent of his injuries.
UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said he was “shocked” by the “awful news” that his Slovakian counterpart had been shot.
“All our thoughts are with Prime Minister Fico and his family,” he added.
Who is Slovakian PM Robert Fico?
By Ellie Doughty
Slovakian prime minister Robert Fico won his country’s elections in September 2023 on a platform of pro-Russian and anti-Western sentiment.
It was his fourth term as prime minister leading the divisive Smer – meaning “Direction” – party.
The controversial leader, whose policies have been met with country-wide protests, is a supporter of Russian tyrant Vladimir Putin.
In January 2024 he said the only way to end the Ukraine war would be for Zelensky’s brave forces to give some of their land to Russian invaders.
He has also opposed Nato membership for Ukraine and said the nation is “not an independent and sovereign country”.
Fico said at the time: “What do they expect, that the Russians will leave Crimea, Donbas and Luhansk? That’s unrealistic.”
Before taking power in December, he promised to stop sending weapons to Ukraine.
He also assured voters he would block any attempts by Kyiv to join Nato and would oppose sanctions against Russia.
In a shocking claim, Fico said Ukraine joining the European military alliance would be “a basis for World War III, nothing else”.
Sickeningly, Fico has claimed that Ukraine – which has been fighting off Russia’s illegal invasion for more than two years – is “one of the most corrupt nations in the world”.
In stark contrast to the war-ravaged experiences of countless Ukrainians, Fico once claimed: “there’s no war in Kyiv,” describing life in the capital as “absolutely normal.”
He has also vowed to enforce a strict stance against migration, NGOs and has campaigned against the rights of the LGBTQ+ community.
Notorious for tirades against journalists, Fico has previously dubbed a major television network, two national newspapers and an online news outlet as his “enemies”.
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