A 72-year-old man, Juraj Cintula, was sentenced to 21 years in prison for terrorism after shooting and seriously wounding Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico in May 2024. The attack occurred in Handlová, Slovakia, where Fico was meeting with supporters following a cabinet session. Cintula approached the prime minister at close range and fired five shots, striking him in the abdomen, hip, hand, and foot. Fico was hospitalized in critical condition and underwent a five-hour emergency surgery before making a full recovery and reappearing publicly months later.
During his trial, Cintula stated he had no intention to kill Fico but sought to harm his health as an act of political frustration. “I decided to harm the health of the prime minister but I had no intention to kill anyone,” he told the court, expressing relief upon learning Fico had survived. Judge Igor Králik emphasized the crime’s political motivation, noting Cintula targeted the nation’s highest official and aimed to incite unrest against the government. Though Cintula acted alone and lacked ties to organized groups, the court ruled his actions met the legal definition of terrorism. He retains the right to appeal the verdict.
The incident has shaken Slovakia, a NATO and EU member state. Fico, a polarizing figure known for his nationalist views and reduced military support for Ukraine, faced criticism from liberal opposition groups and media outlets in Slovakia. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán condemned the attack, calling it a warning for European peace.
