Slovak PM Robert Fico shot at multiple times, in critical condition

BRATISLAVA: Slovakia Prime Minister Robert Fico (59) on Wednesday was shot multiple times after a government meeting and is in critical condition. The incident took place at 2.30 pm local time yesterday (6 pm IST) in Handlova town, 180 km from the capital Bratislava.

"Today, after the government meeting in Handlova, there was an assassination attempt on the Prime Minister of the Slovak Republic, Robert Fico", the government said in a post on social media.

"He is currently being transported by helicopter to Banska Bystrica in a life-threatening condition, because it would take too long to get to Bratislava due to the necessity of an acute intervention", it said.

Fico was greeting the crowd on his way back from a government meeting at the Cultural Community Center when an assailant opened fire. Fico, who fell to the ground, was immediately moved to the car by security personnel.

The 71-year-old assailant was arrested by the police at the scene of the incident. The reason for the attack is unclear. The injured Fico was airlifted to a nearby hospital but transferred to another hospital in the town of Banská Bystrica, east of Handlova, for expert treatment.

Witnesses say Fico was shot in the arm, leg and stomach, but this has not been confirmed. Four gunshots were heard.

Fico served as the Prime Minister of Slovakia from 2006 to 2010 and from 2012 to 2018. Since 1992, he has been a member of the Parliament, the National Council.

Fico, the leader of the Direction Social Democracy party, returned to power in Slovakia, an EU and NATO member state, in October 2023.

The Slovakian PM, who is soft on Russia, stopped military aid to Ukraine after he came to power. This was one of his main election promises. He also announced that humanitarian aid would continue even if no arms would be provided. Fico also insisted that the EU should seek peacemakers from arms suppliers to end the conflict. He has previously blamed US intervention for the conflict in Ukraine.