Latest shooting of Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico: Prime Minister in life-threatening condition after assassination attempt

Over the course of his three-decade career, Fico moved between the pro-European mainstream and nationalist positions opposed to EU and US policies. He has also shown a willingness to change course depending on public opinion or changing political realities.

An admirer of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, Fico became increasingly critical of Western support for Ukraine in the war against invading Russian forces and expressed opposition to Kiev joining NATO in the future.

Fico was forced to resign as prime minister in 2018 amid mass protests sparked by the contract killing of Jan Kuciak, a journalist who had been investigating high-level corruption.

These protests exacerbated the divisions in Slovak society that still exist.

Russian President Vladimir Putin reacted to the shooting in Slovakia.

“There is no justification for this monstrous crime. I know Robert Fico as a courageous and strong-willed man. I really hope that these qualities will help him get through this difficult situation,” he said.

“I politely ask you to convey my sincere words of support and wishes for a speedy and full recovery to Prime Minister Fico,” he said in a telegram to Slovak President Zuzana Caputova.

Slovak news media reported that the shooter was a former mall security guard, author of three books of poetry and member of the Slovak Writers’ Union. Atkuality.sk quoted his son as saying his father was the legal holder of a firearms license.

“I have absolutely no idea what my father intended, what he planned, what happened,” the Aktuality.sk news agency quoted the shooter’s son as saying.

An eyewitness described the scene of the shooting as a “nightmare” after about four shots were fired when a gunman fired his weapon.

“I heard three shots, it was quick one after the other, like throwing a firecracker on the ground,” said eyewitness Lubica Valkovas.

“I think it’s a nightmare, I’m telling you, I don’t think I’ll wake up from it,” the 66-year-old said. “That this is not possible in Slovakia.”

Born in September 1964 into a working-class family, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico graduated from law school in 1986 and joined the then ruling Communist Party.

After the Velvet Revolution of 1989, which led to the disintegration of the former Czechoslovakia, he worked as a government lawyer and represented Slovakia before the European Court of Human Rights.

Over the course of his three-decade career, Fico moved between mainstream pro-European and nationalist positions opposed to the foreign policies of the European Union and the United States.

Read Alexander Butler’s full article here:

President Joe Biden on Wednesday condemned the attempted assassination of Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico and said the U.S. Embassy stands ready to support the government there, a White House statement said.

“I am disturbed to hear reports of an attack on Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico,” Biden said. “We condemn this terrible act of violence. Our embassy is in close contact with the Slovak government and is ready to help.”

The suspect who was arrested at the scene is believed to be a 71-year-old man.

Pictures have emerged showing security forces handcuffing him after several shots were fired at Prime Minister Robert Fico, who was hit in the stomach.

Thomas Verniek, a reporter for the Slovakian news channel TA3, said Sky News that the man was part of a crowd that approached Mr. Fico after he left the House of Culture in the town of Handlova.

He said the suspect approached him before shooting him multiple times.

The NATO Secretary General has condemned the attack as Robert Fico remains in hospital in life-threatening condition.

Jens Stoltenberg said on My thoughts are with Robert Fico, his loved ones and the people of Slovakia.”