Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico was shot with a registered weapon
71-year-old writer Juraj Cintula from the city of Levice, who had a registered weapon, is suspected of the attempt on the life of Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico. The politician is currently in hospital in serious condition.
As the Standard portal reported, citing a source, Fico has a hemorrhage in the abdominal cavity, which doctors cannot yet stop. The prime minister was hit with one shot in the stomach, another bullet went through the stomach into the thigh, and another shot hit the shoulder.
Photo: Radovan Stoklasa / Reuters
Alleged shooter turned out to be an anti-violence poet
According to media reports, the shooter could be the poet Juraj Cintula. It is known that he adheres to liberal views and is a supporter of the opposition liberal parties of the republic. Previously, the man worked as a security guard in a shopping center, where he was once beaten by a young man under the influence of drugs, who caused a scandal.
Since 2015, Tsintula has been a member of the Guild of Slovak Writers. He founded the Rainbow literary club and published several books. In 2016 he initiated the creation of a movement against violence, collected signatures and provided financial support for the official registration of the movement. The man also criticized the government, headed by Fico, for not doing enough to combat gambling.
Association of Slovak Writers commented reports of the arrest of Tsintula. “According to yet unconfirmed information, the assassin of Prime Minister Robert Fico is a certain Juraj Tsintula. Since 2015, we have registered him as a member of the Association of Slovak Writers,” the statement said. It is noted that if the identity of the shooter is confirmed, “the membership of this reprehensible individual will be immediately revoked.”
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Photo: Radovan Stoklasa / Reuters
The son of Fico’s attacker made a comment
The son of Juraj Tsintula confirmed that his father legally owned weapons, but pointed out that he never spoke about plans to attack the prime minister and was not seen by a psychiatrist. “Maybe there was some kind of short circuit, I don’t know. He’s a persistent person, but that doesn’t mean he needs to deal with a psychiatrist or anything like that,” said a relative of the attacker. The man noted that he knew nothing about his father’s plans.
I have absolutely no idea what my father planned, why this happened… I’ll tell you this: he didn’t vote for him. That’s all I can say
The assassination attempt on Fico was the first shooting of a European leader since 2003
The last time a leader was attacked in Europe was in March 2003: Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic died as a result of the shooting.
Many world leaders reacted to the assassination attempt on Robert Fico. Russian President Vladimir Putin said that this heinous crime cannot have any justification. He asked to convey words of sincere support to the Slovak politician. American leader Joe Biden, in turn, also condemned the attack and stressed that the US Embassy in Bratislava is in close contact with the Slovak government and is ready to provide assistance.
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The President of Serbia and the Prime Minister of Hungary also strongly condemned the incident and wished Fico, whom they called their friend, a speedy recovery. President of Ukraine Vladimir Zelensky did not stand aside, expressing solidarity with the people of Slovakia. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer also condemned the incident.
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