May 16th 2024.
In a shocking turn of events, Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico was critically injured in an assassination attempt on Wednesday. However, there is some good news as the latest reports from local media state that Fico has regained consciousness after undergoing a lengthy operation. Environment Minister Tomas Taraba has confirmed that the Prime Minister's life is not in danger.
During a press conference, Taraba expressed his shock at the incident but also shared some reassuring words. He stated that the operation was successful and that Fico's condition is not life-threatening at the moment. However, it was revealed that two shots were fired during the attack - one hitting his stomach and the other his joint.
Defence Minister Robert Kalinak had earlier disclosed that Fico was in critical condition while undergoing surgery. The Interior Minister, Matus Sutaj Estok, has classified the attack as a politically motivated assassination. He stated that the decision to carry out the attack was made after the recent presidential election and blamed "social media hate" for fueling such violence.
The incident took place in the town of Handlova, after Fico had attended a government meeting. According to witnesses, the attacker, identified as 71-year-old Juraj Cintula, shot the Prime Minister multiple times after the meeting had ended and Fico was greeting his supporters. Cintula is reported to be a poet and the founder of the Slovak Association of Writers, as well as a supporter of the opposition Progressive Slovakia party. He used a licensed gun for the attack.
Fico was immediately transported by helicopter to the Roosevelt Hospital in Banska Bystrica, as the journey to the capital would have taken much longer. The left-wing Smer-SD party leader had returned to office in October 2023 after previously serving two terms as Prime Minister. He had recently made headlines for his stance on military aid to Kiev and his call for a peaceful resolution between Russia and Ukraine, which had put him at odds with most European countries, except for Hungary, who shares a similar approach.
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