Slovak police indicted for “attempted murder” the man who shot and wounded Prime Minister Robert Fico, the Minister of the Interior announced Thursday, May 16. “Slovak police are working on a single version of the attack and the suspect is charged with attempted premeditated murder”Matus Sutaj Estok told the press, adding that the attack was “politically motivated”.
Targeted on Wednesday by a shooter whose motivations remain unclear at this stage, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico was in a stable but still condition on Thursday morning. ” very serious “. The 59-year-old leader underwent a five-hour operation on Wednesday at Roosevelt Hospital in Banska Bystrica (Central), where he was transported by helicopter. He suffers from “multiple injuries” and will remain in intensive care, said the director of the establishment, Miriam Lapunikova, during a press conference early in the morning.
“Unfortunately, his condition remains very serious, because his injuries are complicated”, confirmed Deputy Prime Minister Robert Kalinak, also Minister of Defense. According to Mr. Kalinak, this is“a political attack” to which it will be necessary “react”.
International convictions
Robert Fico was shot several times early Wednesday afternoon, after a meeting in Handlova, in central Slovakia, an attack which sparked a wave of international condemnation.
The alleged attacker, a 71-year-old man identified by Slovak media as a local writer, was charged Thursday with “premeditated attempted murder”announced the Minister of the Interior, Matus Sutaj Estok, referring to an attack “politically motivated”. “He was a lone wolf” who decided to take action “after the results of the presidential election, with which he was unhappy”he said.
Faced with tensions in the political class, Peter Pellegrini, a long-time ally of Mr. Fico, urged the parties to “temporarily suspend” the campaign for the vote scheduled for June 8. “Slovakia does not need more confrontations at the moment” And “mutual accusations”said the official, who will take office in June.