Robert Fico: Slovakia’s prime minister shot multiple times in ‘politically motivated’ attack

CNN
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Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico was hospitalized on Wednesday after he was shot 5 times in an assassination try that shocked the nation.

The attack occurred after an off-site authorities assembly in the central Slovak city of Handlova. The suspected gunman was amongst a small crowd of individuals ready to greet the prime minister on the road exterior the cultural heart, the place the assembly occurred, native media reported.

Footage from the scene exhibits the injured prime minister being bundled right into a car by his workers, earlier than it speeds away with him inside. Fico was taken to an area hospital after which transferred by helicopter to a serious trauma heart about 20 miles (30 kilometers) away in Banska Bystrica. No one else was injured in the attack, officers stated.

Both the nation’s Defense Minister Robert Kaliňák and Interior Minister Matúš Šutaj Eštok known as the taking pictures “politically motivated,” with Šutaj Eštok noting that “the suspect made the decision to do it shortly after the presidential election.”

Slovakian deputy Prime Minister Tomáš Taraba stated he believed the prime minister would survive following surgical procedure that “went well” and was “not in a life-threatening situation at this moment.”

“I was very shocked and tried to contact people to figure out how serious his condition was,” Taraba stated in an interview with BBC’s Newshour program on Wednesday, recalling the second he heard about Fico’s taking pictures.

“Fortunately, as far as I know the operation went well and I guess in the end he will survive,” he stated.

Taraba advised the BBC that Fico “was heavily injured” and a bullet “went through the stomach and the second one hit the joints.”

Fico is probably the most highly effective lawmaker in Slovakia. Unlike the president, whose function has restricted scope, the prime minister holds rank because the decision-making head of presidency.

The official assertion posted on Fico’s official Facebook stated the PM was taken to Banska Bystrica as an alternative of the capital metropolis of Bratislava as a result of “an acute intervention” was needed. Handlova is about two hours’ drive from the capital Bratislava.

Slovak President Zuzana Čaputová stated the suspected gunman was detained by the police. She stated regulation enforcement businesses will launch extra info once they can and requested the general public to not unfold unconfirmed rumors.

Čaputová condemned what she known as a “brutal and reckless” attack on the 59-year-old politician. Speaking at a information convention later in the afternoon, she stated the taking pictures was “an attack on democracy as well.”

Slovakia’s protection and inside ministers blamed rising hate speech and division for the political ambiance in the nation, which they stated led to the assassination try.

Speaking to reporters in entrance of the hospital the place Fico is being handled, Defense Minister Kaliňák stated: “Hate is not an answer to hate.” Visibly shaken and struggling for phrases at multiple moments through the information convention, Kaliňák stated it was “time for some people to have a hard look into the mirror.”

“There is no question that this was politically motivated. The inability to accept the choice of people, which some may not like … it leads to this,” he stated.

Interior Minister Šutaj-Eštok known as for calm, saying “those who are endorsing this attack as well as those who are calling for some sort of a revenge. And I am asking you, the media too, please, use your power, your influence. Because until now, it was some of you who sow the hate,” he stated.

Following the taking pictures, Šutaj-Eštok stated the nation is “experiencing the worst day of its democracy.”

“For the first time in the 31 years of our democratic sovereign republic, someone has decided to express a political opinion not in an election but with a gun on the street,” he wrote on Facebook.

Slovaks have been deeply divided over the nation’s route and place in the world since Fico’s return to energy final yr. Supporters see Fico as a caring chief who has their pursuits at coronary heart; critics say he’s a populist whose pro-Russian leanings pose main dangers for the nation.

The nation has seen weeks of largely peaceable protests over his coalition authorities’s controversial home reforms. The authorities can also be attempting to close down public service broadcaster RTVS and plans to interchange it with a brand new nationwide broadcaster, which might be below tighter management of the federal government.

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Social media footage appeared to indicate the second Fico was attacked. As he approaches a crowd of individuals, a person is seen lunging in direction of Fico with what seems to be a gun pointed at him. Five pictures are heard and Fico falls to the bottom.

An eyewitness who was on the scene the place Fico was shot stated the attack felt like a “nightmare” after listening to three “quick” pictures, fired one after the opposite as in the event you had been to “throw a firecracker on the ground.”

“I heard three shots, it was quick one by one like if you throw a firecracker on the ground,” eyewitness Lubica Valkova advised Reuters, including that “he (Fico) fell next to the barrier.”

“I think it is a nightmare, I’ll tell you I think I will not wake up from this,” the 66-year-old stated. “That this is not possible to happen in Slovakia.”

Valkova stated she had been ready a very long time to shake Fico’s hand and was taking photos of him when he walked out of the constructing in Handlova.

“At this moment we heard something like a bang, we thought someone made a joke and threw a firecracker on the ground, that was my first reaction,” Valkova recalled.

The Slovak resident advised Reuters she had been ready from 10 a.m. native time. She claimed police didn’t search individuals who had been ready on the occasion, including that “we could have shown our empty hands.”

In what was a surprising comeback for the controversial politician, Fico gained a 3rd time period as Slovakian prime minister final October after working a marketing campaign that criticized western help for Ukraine. As prime minister, he made a serious U-turn in Slovakia’s international coverage and its beforehand staunch help for Ukraine: Fico had pledged an instantaneous finish to Slovak army help for Ukraine and promised to dam Ukraine’s NATO ambitions.

Ahead of the election, Fico made no secret of his sympathies in direction of the Kremlin and blamed “Ukrainian Nazis and fascists” for frightening Vladimir Putin into launching the invasion, repeating the false narrative Russia’s president has used to justify his invasion.

While in opposition, Fico turned an in depth ally of Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban, particularly when it got here to criticism of the European Union.

Domestically, his coalition authorities can also be pushing controversial reforms which have prompted weeks of large-scale peaceable protests. Attempts to overtake the felony justice system have been notably controversial, as the federal government seeks to cut back penalties for corruption and has already abolished Slovakia’s particular prosecutor’s workplace, which was tasked with investigating severe and politically delicate corruption instances, together with some that concerned individuals linked to Fico and his celebration SMER (“Direction – Social Democracy”).

Fico beforehand served as Slovakia’s prime minister for greater than a decade, first between 2006 and 2010 after which once more from 2012 to 2018. He was pressured to resign in March 2018 after weeks of mass protests over the homicide of investigative journalist Jan Kuciak and his fiancée, Martina Kušnírová. Kuciak reported on corruption among the many nation’s elite, together with individuals immediately linked to Fico and his celebration SMER.

World leaders instantly condemned the attack.

Russian President Vladimir Putin stated in a telegram to Slovakia’s president that “there can be no justification for this monstrous crime” and wished Fico a speedy and full restoration.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, tweeted: “I strongly condemn the vile attack on Prime Minister Robert Fico. Such acts of violence have no place in our society and undermine democracy, our most precious common good.”

And Hungarian Prime Minister Orban added: “I was deeply shocked by the heinous attack against my friend, Prime Minister Robert Fico. We pray for his health and quick recovery!”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed “solidarity with the people of Slovakia” following the “appalling” assault on Fico.

US President Joe Biden stated he was “alarmed” by the tried assassination of Fico, calling it a “horrific act of violence.”

“Jill and I are praying for a swift recovery, and our thoughts are with his family and the people of Slovakia,” he stated in an announcement.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres stated he “strongly condemns the shocking attack.”

This story has been up to date with further developments.