The Prime Minister of Slovakia, Robert Fico, was critically injured in an assassination attempt on Wednesday, having sustained multiple gunshot wounds. The attack occurred following an off-site government meeting in Handlova, where Fico was shot multiple times. He was initially rushed to a local hospital before being airlifted to a major trauma center in Banska Bystrica for urgent medical attention.
Footage from the scene captured the prime minister being hurriedly placed into a vehicle by his staff, which then sped away from the scene. A suspected gunman was promptly apprehended by law enforcement officers at the scene of the attack.
A statement on Fico’s official Facebook page confirmed the severity of his condition, describing it as life-threatening and emphasizing the critical hours ahead. Slovak President Zuzana Čaputová condemned the attack as “brutal and reckless,” expressing shock and wishing Fico a swift recovery.
Robert Fico, who won a third term as prime minister in October, had run a campaign critical of western support for Ukraine, advocating for an immediate end to Slovak military support and opposing Ukraine’s NATO aspirations. He has been known for his sympathies towards the Kremlin and close alliance with Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban, particularly in their criticism of the European Union.
Fico’s tenure as prime minister has been marked by controversy, including his resignation in 2018 following mass protests sparked by the murder of investigative journalist Jan Kuciak and his fiancée. Kuciak’s reporting had exposed corruption within Slovakia’s elite circles, implicating individuals linked to Fico’s party.
European leaders swiftly condemned the attack on Fico, denouncing such acts of violence and affirming solidarity with Slovakia. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban both expressed shock and solidarity, wishing for Fico’s speedy recovery.