Slovakia PM shooting – live: Robert Fico ‘escaped death by a hair’ as president says situation ‘critical’
Slovak populist prime minister shot in stomach during meeting with supporters in Handlova
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The Slovakian prime minister “escaped death by just a hair,” after he was shot in the stomach in an assassination attempt on Wednesday.
Mr Fico, 59, was injured after five shots were fired outside the House of Culture in the town of Handlova where the leader was meeting with supporters.
In an update on Thursday, Slovakia’s president-elect Peter Pellegrini said the PM is still “critical” as he is living “the worst hours and days of his life”.
He added that if the bullets struck just a few millimetres either side, the Mr Fico would have been killed.
Suspect Juraj Cintula, 71, believed to be a former security guard and poet, was charged with attempted murder and faces up to 25 years in prison.
He is believed to have attended anti-government protests, and in social media posts referred to having disagreements with Mr Fico’s policies.
Mr Fico, a well-known ally of Russian president Vladimir Putin, is a divisive figure in Slovak politics, with the European Union Parliament elections due to take place in three weeks.
Who is Slovakia’s prime minister Robert Fico?
Slovakian prime minister Robert Fico shot in ‘politically motivated’ attempted assassination
Robert Fico, Slovakia's populist prime minister, who returned to power on a pro-Russian platform
Slovakia’s parliament suspended after prime minister Robert Fico injured in shooting
Slovakian PM Fico ‘not out of the woods yet’ as suspect charged with attempted murder over shooting
A man has been charged with the attempted murder of Slovakian prime minister Robert Fico, who is in a stable condition in hospital but is “not out of the woods yet” according to officials.
Mr Fico was left fighting for his life in hospital after he was shot several times in the stomach in what the government has decribed as an assassination attempt. Mr Fico, 59, was airlifted to hospital after five shots were fired by a gunman outside the House of Culture in the town of Handlova where the leader was meeting with supporters.
Mr Fico was still critical on Thursday after undergoing five hours of surgery with doctors working around the clock to save his life. But Slovakian president-elect Peter Pellegrini said he could speak a little.
Slovakian PM Fico ‘not out of woods’ as suspect charged over shooting
‘If there is anything that the people of Slovakia urgently need today, it is at least basic agreement and unity,’ says president-elect
Could the Robert Fico shooting lead to a wider conflict in Europe?
The attack on the Slovak prime minister contains shades of 1914, writes Mary Dejevsky. But will it lead to a similarly catastrophic outcome for the continent – or will it remain a purely domestic atrocity?
Could the Robert Fico shooting lead to a wider conflict in Europe?
The attack on the Slovak prime minister contains shades of 1914, writes Mary Dejevsky. But will it lead to a similarly catastrophic outcome for the continent – or will it remain a purely domestic atrocity?
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