Slovakia's Prime Minister Fico in serious condition after assassination attempt

This is reported by Dennik N.

The incident occurred in Handlová, where the Slovak government was holding a visiting meeting. Prime Minister Robert Fico went outside to address the people and several shots were fired.

After the attack, the guards picked up the wounded Fico and took him to the hospital in a car. The alleged attacker has already been detained by police. Law enforcement officers cordoned off the area and evacuated the cultural center.

Photo: reuters

On the official Facebook page of Robert Fico, a post appeared in which the prime minister's representatives shared the main information.

"Today Robert Fico was assassinated. He was shot multiple times and is now in a life-threatening condition. He is currently being transported by helicopter to Banská Bystrica, as a transfer to Bratislava would take too much time given the need for urgent intervention. Everything will be resolved in the next few hours," the statement says.

Photo: reuters

Video from the scene:

Volodymyr Zelenskyy's reaction

The President of Ukraine emphasized that the attempted assassination of Robert Fico was terrible.

''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,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a statement.

The world's reaction

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen condemned the attack on Fico.

“Such acts of violence have no place in our society and undermine democracy, our most precious common good. My thoughts are with PM Fico and his family,” she wrote.

Czech Prime Minister Peter Pavel emphasized that violence cannot be tolerated.

"The news of the shooting of Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico is shocking. I wish the Prime Minister a speedy recovery. We must not tolerate violence, it has no place in society," the statement says.

Hungarian leader Viktor Orban is shocked by the attack on Fico.

“I was deeply shocked by the heinous attack against my friend, Prime Minister Robert Fico. We pray for his health and quick recovery! God bless him and his country!” he said.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk also reacted to the incident.

“Shocking news from Slovakia. Robert, my thoughts are with you in this very difficult moment,” Tusk wrote.

Russia's reaction

Russian propagandist Margarita Simonyan was quick to accuse Ukraine of assassinating Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico. She wrote about this on her Telegram channel.

"The Prime Minister of Slovakia is wounded. The one who said that the special military operation began as a result of the rampage of Ukrainian neo-Nazis and Putin had no other choice. This is how they work," she wrote.

Other propagandists joined Simonyan to say that in such a way, Ukrainians revenged for Slovakia's refusal to supply weapons to Ukraine and Fico's pro-Russian stance.

Who is Robert Fico?

Robert Fico again became prime minister of Slovakia in October 2023 after his Direction – Social Democracy also commonly referred to as Smer party won the parliamentary elections and formed a coalition with Voice – Social Democracy – known as Hlas - and the pro-Russian Slovak National Party.

Fico is the longest-serving Prime Minister in Slovakia's history. During his latest election campaign, he promised that he would oppose military aid to Ukraine. 

Slovak Prime Minister also said that the only way to end Russia's war against Ukraine is for Kyiv to give away some of its territory to the invading Russian forces.