Slovakia Prime Minister Shot... "Assassination Attempt"

The Prime Minister of Slovakia was seriously injured after being shot on the 15th (local time). The Slovak government has classified this as an assassination attempt.

According to the Slovak government, Prime Minister Robert Fico was shot multiple times in a village on the outskirts of the capital, Bratislava, and was transported to a hospital.

Robert Fico Slovakian Prime Minister
[Photo by AP Yonhap News]

It is reported that several gunshots were heard while Prime Minister Fico was meeting supporters after holding a cabinet meeting at the 'House of Culture' in the area.

The ambulance transferred Prime Minister Fico to a hospital in the nearby city of Bansk? Bystrica, where emergency surgery was performed. The Prime Minister's office stated that Fico's condition is critical.

Mat?? ?utaj Est?k, Slovakia's Minister of the Interior, said in a briefing that this assassination attempt had political motives. The suspect is currently in custody and reportedly decided to commit the crime shortly after last month's election.

The Slovak police arrested the suspect at the scene and are investigating. The suspect is known to have worked in security at a shopping mall for a private security company.

Prime Minister Fico has served as prime minister three times. After his first term from 2006 to 2010, he was in power again from 2012 to 2018. He returned to the prime minister position after winning last October's general election, riding on pro-Russian sentiment opposing support for Ukraine.

Recently, protests against government policies have been held weekly in Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia. It is known that the Slovak opposition is leading the protests, claiming that the government led by Prime Minister Fico controls public media.

Considering the gravity of the incident, the Slovak parliament has adjourned. President Zuzana ?aputov? of Slovakia issued a statement condemning the "cruel and ruthless attack" and wishing for Prime Minister Fico's speedy recovery.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.