A man who shot and seriously injured Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico in an attack last year has been sentenced to 21 years in prison after being found guilty of terrorism. Juraj Cintula, a 72-year-old pensioner, fired five shots at the prime minister in May 2024 when he was on a visit to the town of Handlova, about 180km (112 miles) north-east of the capital, Bratislava.
The gunman shot Fico at extremely close range, just as he was reaching out to shake his hand, thinking he was a supporter. In court, Cintula denied trying to kill the prime minister, saying he had deliberately aimed away from his vital organs.
Footage from the scene showed a man raising a gun and firing at Fico before being subdued by bodyguards. The prime minister was seriously injured in his abdomen and was airlifted to a nearby hospital for emergency surgery. His condition was initially life-threatening, but he later recovered and returned to public engagements.
In sentencing, Judge Igor Kralik emphasized that the attack was not against a citizen but specifically targeted the prime minister. Cintula's lawyer had sought to lessen the charges, but the judge firmly rejected this. Cintula, an amateur poet, stated he only intended to injure Fico as a protest against policies he believed were detrimental to Slovakia. He expressed his opposition to Fico's nationalist government, particularly regarding its suspension of military aid to Ukraine amid the ongoing conflict with Russia.
Following the shooting, tensions have escalated, with Fico blaming the opposition for inciting hatred, while large-scale protests have erupted against his administration’s perceived undermining of democratic principles. Amid this backdrop, Cintula plans to appeal his verdict.
The gunman shot Fico at extremely close range, just as he was reaching out to shake his hand, thinking he was a supporter. In court, Cintula denied trying to kill the prime minister, saying he had deliberately aimed away from his vital organs.
Footage from the scene showed a man raising a gun and firing at Fico before being subdued by bodyguards. The prime minister was seriously injured in his abdomen and was airlifted to a nearby hospital for emergency surgery. His condition was initially life-threatening, but he later recovered and returned to public engagements.
In sentencing, Judge Igor Kralik emphasized that the attack was not against a citizen but specifically targeted the prime minister. Cintula's lawyer had sought to lessen the charges, but the judge firmly rejected this. Cintula, an amateur poet, stated he only intended to injure Fico as a protest against policies he believed were detrimental to Slovakia. He expressed his opposition to Fico's nationalist government, particularly regarding its suspension of military aid to Ukraine amid the ongoing conflict with Russia.
Following the shooting, tensions have escalated, with Fico blaming the opposition for inciting hatred, while large-scale protests have erupted against his administration’s perceived undermining of democratic principles. Amid this backdrop, Cintula plans to appeal his verdict.
