Five shots were fired outside a cultural centre in the town of Handlova, nearly 85 miles north east of the capital.
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The Slovakian Prime Minister, Robert Fico, underwent surgery on Friday.
He was reported to be in a serious but stable condition in intensive care after being shot multiple times on Wednesday.
Five shots were fired outside a cultural centre in the town of Handlova, nearly 85 miles northeast of the capital.
PM Robert Fico was shot after a political event. Source: RTV PRIEVIDZA via AP
Mr Fico was airlifted to the FD Roosevelt Hospital in Banska Bystrica where doctors performed a five-hour operation on him. According to the director of the hospital, Miriam Lapunikova, Mr Fico was reported to be a in life-threatening condition.
A 71-year old man has been taken into custody in connection with the shooting. Interior Minister, Matus Sutaj Estok, says that an initial investigation has found “a clear political motivation” behind the attack on Mr Fico, who was attending a government meeting in a former coal mining town.
PM, Robert Fico, who founded the Direction – Social Democracy party, has long been a divisive figure in Slovakia and beyond.
He returned to power last year on a pro-Russian, anti-American message which led to worries among fellow European Union and Nato members that he would abandon his country’s pro-Western course.
Before returning to power, he promised a tough stance against migration and non-governmental organisations, and campaigned against LGBT+ rights.
Since his return, Mr Fico’s government has halted arms deliveries to Ukraine and critics worry that he will lead Slovakia — a nation of 5.4 million that belongs to Nato — down a more autocratic path.
Thousands have repeatedly rallied across the country to protest against Mr Fico’s policies on Ukraine and other issues, including plans to amend the penal code to eliminate a special anti-corruption prosecutor and to take control of public media.
Despite the controversy surrounding Mr Fico’s leadership, condemnation of the attack came from both his allies and adversaries.
Outgoing Slovakian President Zuzana Caputova, a political rival of the Prime Minister, said on Thursday that the heads of the country’s political parties would meet in an effort to bring calm. She said that the shooting was an “attack on democracy”.
Russian President Vladimir Putin sent a message to Zuzana Caputova on Wednesday expressing his support and wishing the Prime Minister a fast and full recovery.
“This atrocious crime cannot be justified,” Mr Putin said in the message released by the Kremlin. “I know Robert Fico as a courageous and strong-willed person. I truly hope these personal qualities will help him overcome this harsh situation.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also denounced the violence against a neighbouring country’s head of government.
“Every effort should be made to ensure that violence does not become the norm in any country, form or sphere,” he said.
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HeadlineSlovakian PM Robert Fico underwent surgery again
Short HeadlineSlovakian PM underwent surgery again
StandfirstThe leader was shot multiple times after a political event on Wednesday
The Slovakian Prime Minister, Robert Fico, underwent surgery on Friday.
He was reported to be in a serious but stable condition in intensive care after being shot multiple times on Wednesday.
Five shots were fired outside a cultural centre in the town of Handlova, nearly 85 miles northeast of the capital.
PM Robert Fico was shot after a political event. Source: RTV PRIEVIDZA via AP
Mr Fico was airlifted to the FD Roosevelt Hospital in Banska Bystrica where doctors performed a five-hour operation on him. According to the director of the hospital, Miriam Lapunikova, Mr Fico was reported to be a in life-threatening condition.
A 71-year old man has been taken into custody in connection with the shooting. Interior Minister, Matus Sutaj Estok, says that an initial investigation has found “a clear political motivation” behind the attack on Mr Fico, who was attending a government meeting in a former coal mining town.
PM, Robert Fico, who founded the Direction – Social Democracy party, has long been a divisive figure in Slovakia and beyond.
He returned to power last year on a pro-Russian, anti-American message which led to worries among fellow European Union and Nato members that he would abandon his country’s pro-Western course.
Before returning to power, he promised a tough stance against migration and non-governmental organisations, and campaigned against LGBT+ rights.
Since his return, Mr Fico’s government has halted arms deliveries to Ukraine and critics worry that he will lead Slovakia — a nation of 5.4 million that belongs to Nato — down a more autocratic path.
Thousands have repeatedly rallied across the country to protest against Mr Fico’s policies on Ukraine and other issues, including plans to amend the penal code to eliminate a special anti-corruption prosecutor and to take control of public media.
Despite the controversy surrounding Mr Fico’s leadership, condemnation of the attack came from both his allies and adversaries.
Outgoing Slovakian President Zuzana Caputova, a political rival of the Prime Minister, said on Thursday that the heads of the country’s political parties would meet in an effort to bring calm. She said that the shooting was an “attack on democracy”.
Russian President Vladimir Putin sent a message to Zuzana Caputova on Wednesday expressing his support and wishing the Prime Minister a fast and full recovery.
“This atrocious crime cannot be justified,” Mr Putin said in the message released by the Kremlin. “I know Robert Fico as a courageous and strong-willed person. I truly hope these personal qualities will help him overcome this harsh situation.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also denounced the violence against a neighbouring country’s head of government.
“Every effort should be made to ensure that violence does not become the norm in any country, form or sphere,” he said.
