Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico Undergoes Surgery Following Assassination Attempt, Now Out of Danger
The surgery on Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, who was the target of an assassination attempt on 15 May, has been successful, and his life is no longer in danger. This was reported by Slovak Deputy Prime Minister Tomáš Taraba in a comment to the BBC.
"As far as I know, the operation went well, and I assume he will ultimately survive," Taraba stated.
He noted that the assailant shot at the head of the Slovak government from a very close range, with "one bullet passing through his abdomen and another hitting a joint."
According to the Slovak publication Pluska.sk, doctors fought for the prime minister's life for over four hours. They found a wound in the epigastrium, the upper central part of the abdomen, and in the right hypochondrium, the lower right part of the abdomen. Additionally, there were wounds on the forearm and big toe, which were relatively superficial.
"There were no shrapnel injuries or skeletal damage," stated the hospitalization report.
To recap, The Gaze reported that Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico was hospitalized in serious condition on 15 May after sustaining gunshot wounds following a government meeting in the Slovak city of Handlová. The Ministry of the Interior announced that the attacker fired five shots at Fico.
Immediately after the shooting, the police subdued and detained the suspected attacker. The police secured the area and evacuated the cultural centre where the meeting was held. Security ensured the safety of other government members.
Slovak authorities identified the suspect as 71-year-old writer Juraj Cintula, who legally owned the firearm. In a video after his arrest, he claimed political motives for the attack, expressing dissatisfaction with Fico's government, particularly his efforts against independent media. There is also information that he previously praised the pro-Russian Slovak paramilitary group Slovenský Branci and took photos with its members.
It is notable that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the assassination attempt on Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico.
"A horrific attack on the Prime Minister of Slovakia, Robert Fico. We strongly condemn this act of violence against the head of government of our neighbouring partner state. Everything possible must be done to ensure that violence does not become the norm in any country, in any form, or in any sphere," stated the President of Ukraine.
He expressed hope for Fico's swift recovery and conveyed support to the Slovak people.