Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico was shot in the abdomen in an assassination attempt outside a government building in the town of Handlova on Wednesday, according to a government official.
Fico, 59, was raced to a hospital in Bratislava, the country’s capital, about 2 hours away, officials said. He was conscious following the shooting, government officials said at a press conference.
At least four shots rang out, officials said. A suspect was immediately swarmed and arrested at the scene.
“I am shocked, we are all shocked by the terrible and malicious attack on Prime Minister Robert Fico,” Slovakian President Zuzana Caputova said in an address to the nation. “Something serious has happened that we can’t even realize yet. A physical attack on the prime minister is primarily an attack on a person, but it is also an attack on democracy. Any violence is unacceptable. The hateful rhetoric we witness in society leads to hateful acts. Please, let’s stop it.”
Caputova said the alleged attacker has been arrested and “will surely bring more information when possible.”
“Until then, please don’t make quick judgments, and think about the most important thing: and that’s the only thing at the moment — that Robert Fico recovers as quickly as possible,” she added.
The U.S. Embassy in Slovakia said in a statement: “Ambassador Gautam Rana, as well as the entire team of the US Embassy in Slovakia, are shocked and horrified by the attack on the Prime Minister of the Slovak Republic, Robert Fico. Our thoughts are with him, his family and the Slovak people. We strongly condemn this attack and reject any form of violence. The United States is ready to provide any assistance.”
Countries bordering Slovakia, like the Czech Republic to its west, responded to the assassination attempt through social media platforms.
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“The news about the shooting of Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico is shocking,” Czech Republic Prime Minister Petr Fiala said in a statement. “I wish the prime minister to get well as soon as possible. We must not tolerate violence, it must have no place in society.”
Fico assumed the role of prime minister once again in October 2023, having previously held the position from 2006 to 2010 and then from 2012 to 2018.
His firm stance against providing aid to Ukraine in its conflict with Russia has sparked controversy.
Slovakia, which borders Ukraine to the east, had already sheltered 1.8 million Ukrainian refugees by November 21, 2023, as reported by the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees.
