Robert Fico: The Slovak Prime Minister was shot multiple times in a “politically motivated” attack

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Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico was hospitalized on Wednesday after being shot five times in an assassination attempt that shocked the country.

The attack occurred after an off-site government meeting in the central Slovakian town of Handlova. The suspected gunman was among a small crowd waiting to greet the prime minister on the street outside the cultural center where the meeting was taking place, local media reported.

Footage from the crime scene shows the injured prime minister being forced into a vehicle by his staff before it speeds away with him. Fico was taken to a local hospital and then taken by helicopter to a major trauma center about 30 kilometers away in Banska Bystrica. No one was injured in the attack, officials said.

Both the country’s Defense Minister Robert Kaliňák and Interior Minister Matúš Šutaj Eštok called the shooting “politically motivated,” with Šutaj Eštok noting that “the suspect made the decision to do so shortly after the presidential election.”

Slovakia’s Deputy Prime Minister Tomáš Taraba said he believed the prime minister would survive the operation, which “went well” and was “not currently in a life-threatening situation.”

“I was very shocked and tried to contact people to find out how serious his condition was,” Taraba said in an interview with the BBC’s Newshour program on Wednesday, recalling the moment he heard about Fico’s shooting heard.

“Fortunately, as far as I know, the operation went well and I expect he will survive in the end,” he said.

Taraba told the BBC that Fico was “severely injured” and that one bullet “went through the stomach and the second hit the joints.”

Fico is the most powerful lawmaker in Slovakia. In contrast to the president, whose role is limited, the prime minister is the head of government with decision-making power.

The official statement, posted on Fico’s official Facebook, said the prime minister was taken to Banska Bystrica and not the capital Bratislava because “an acute intervention” was necessary. Handlova is about two hours’ drive from the capital Bratislava.

Slovak President Zuzana Čaputová said the suspected shooter had been arrested by police. She said law enforcement would release more information when possible and urged the public not to spread unconfirmed rumors.

Čaputová condemned what she called a “brutal and ruthless” attack on the 59-year-old politician. At a news conference later that afternoon, she said the shooting was “also an attack on democracy.”

Slovakia’s defense and interior ministers blamed increasing hate speech and division for the political atmosphere in the country, which they said led to the attack.

Speaking to reporters outside the hospital where Fico is being treated, Defense Minister Kaliňák said: “Hate is not the answer to hate.” At several points during the press conference, Kaliňák was visibly shaken and struggled for words. He said it was “time for some people to take a hard look in the mirror.”

“There is no doubt that this was politically motivated. The inability to accept people’s choices, which some may not like… leads to this,” he said.

Interior Minister Šutaj-Eštok called for calm and said: “Those who support this attack, as well as those who demand some kind of revenge.” And I ask you, including the media, to please use your power, your influence. Because until now it was some of you who sowed hatred,” he said.

After the shooting, Šutaj-Eštok said the country was experiencing “the worst day of its democracy.”

“For the first time in the 31 years of our democratic sovereign republic, someone has chosen to express their political opinions not in an election, but with a gun in the street,” he wrote on Facebook.

Since Fico’s return to power last year, Slovaks have been deeply divided over the country’s direction and position in the world. Supporters see Fico as a caring leader who has their interests at heart. Critics say he is a populist whose pro-Russian stance poses major risks for the country.

The country experienced weeks of largely peaceful protests against his coalition government’s controversial domestic reforms. The government is also seeking to close public broadcaster RTVS and plans to replace it with a new national broadcaster that would be subject to stricter government control.

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Social media footage appeared to show the moment Fico was attacked. As he approaches a crowd, a man is seen rushing towards Fico with what appears to be a gun pointed at him. Five shots are heard and Fico falls to the ground.

An eyewitness who was at the scene where Fico was shot said the attack felt like a “nightmare” after hearing three “rapid” shots fired one after the other, like “a firecracker being shot at the Throw ground”.

“I heard three shots, it was quick, one after the other, like throwing a firecracker on the ground,” eyewitness Lubica Valkova told Reuters, adding that “he (Fico) fell next to the barrier.”

“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.”

Valkova said she had waited a long time to shake Fico’s hand and had just photographed him as he left the building in Handlova.

“At that moment we heard something like a bang, we thought someone had made a joke and thrown a firecracker on the ground, that was my first reaction,” recalls Valkova.

The Slovakian resident told Reuters she had been waiting from 10 a.m. local time. She claimed police did not search those waiting at the event, adding that “we could have shown our empty hands”.

It was a stunning comeback for the controversial politician when Fico won a third term as Slovakia’s prime minister last October after running a campaign criticizing the West’s support for Ukraine. As prime minister, he made a major about-face in Slovakia’s foreign policy and its previously staunch support for Ukraine: Fico had pledged an immediate end to Slovak military support for Ukraine and promised to block Ukraine’s NATO ambitions.

In the run-up to the election, Fico made no secret of his sympathy for the Kremlin, blaming “Ukrainian Nazis and fascists” for provoking Vladimir Putin into launching the invasion, repeating the false narrative used by the Russian president to justify his invasion had.

During his time in opposition, Fico became a close ally of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, particularly when it came to criticizing the European Union.

At home, his coalition government is also pushing ahead with controversial reforms that have led to weeks of large-scale peaceful protests. Attempts to reform the criminal justice system have been particularly controversial as the government wants to reduce penalties for corruption and has already abolished Slovakia’s special prosecutor’s office, which was tasked with investigating serious and politically sensitive corruption cases, including some involving people with ties to Fico were involved and his party SMER (“Direction – Social Democracy”).

Fico previously served as Slovakia’s prime minister for more than a decade, first between 2006 and 2010 and then again from 2012 to 2018. He was forced to resign in March 2018 after weeks of mass protests over the murder of investigative journalist Jan Kuciak and his fiancée, Martina Kušnírová. Kuciak reported on corruption among the country’s elite, including people directly linked to Fico and his SMER party.

World leaders immediately condemned the attack.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said in a telegram to the Slovakian president that “there can be no justification for this monstrous crime” and wished Fico a speedy and full recovery.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen tweeted: “I condemn in the strongest terms the vile attack on Prime Minister Robert Fico. “Such acts of violence have no place in our society and undermine democracy, our most precious common good.”

And Hungarian Prime Minister Orban added: “I was deeply shocked by the vile attack on my friend, Prime Minister Robert Fico. We pray for his health and speedy recovery!”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed his “solidarity with the Slovak people” after the “horrific” attack on Fico.

US President Joe Biden said he was “concerned” about the attempted assassination of Fico, calling it a “horrible act of violence.”

“Jill and I are praying for a speedy recovery and our thoughts are with his family and the people of Slovakia,” he said in a statement.

U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres said he “condemns in the strongest terms the shocking attack.”

This story has been updated with additional developments.