An assassination attempt was made on Prime Minister Robert Fico in the Slovak town of Gandlová. He was shot with a firearm and the attacker was detained by the police. Find out who shot the prime minister and what statement the Ukrainian president has already made

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A shooting took place in Slovakia after a government meeting. Prime Minister Robert Fico, who is known for his controversial statements on Ukraine, was wounded. We will tell you about the prime minister's condition and how Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reacted to it.

What happened?

According to the Slovak media, the shooting took place after a visiting meeting of the Slovak government in the city of Handlova. Fico was wounded and is being taken to hospital.

"I heard three or four shots. I saw Fico being lifted off the ground. The shooter was later detained," journalist Daniel Vražda, who was at the scene, told aktuality.sk.

The Slovak Ministry of the Interior has already confirmed the incident. Other ministers were also evacuated from the scene of the shooting.

What is Fico's condition?

Fico was taken to hospital by a rescue helicopter. The official page of the official says that the prime minister is in a "life-threatening condition". 

"He is being transported by helicopter to Banská Bystrica, as it would take too long to get to Bratislava given the need for urgent intervention. The next few hours will be crucial," the statement said.

According to media reports, Robert Fico was shot two or three times, allegedly in the limbs, chest and abdomen, and will undergo surgery. However, witnesses heard up to five shots.

At the same time, sources from one of the Slovak media outlets report that Fico's life is not in danger. He is currently being taken to a hospital in Banská Bystrica.

Earlier, several people were standing near Fico's car in the fenced-off area. None of them were shouting anti-government slogans. Only one person was holding a poster against the authorities. The shooting occurred when Fico approached to shake hands with the people present.

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Who was behind the shooting?

Slovak media have already named the main suspect in the attempted assassination of the prime minister. His name is Juraj Cintula, a well-known Slovak writer and activist of the Liberal Party. He allegedly fired a registered weapon. 

Ukraine has already reacted

Ukraine's official position has already been expressed by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who said that the attack on the Slovak prime minister was "appalling".

"We strongly condemn this act of violence against the head of government of our neighbouring partner state. Every effort must be made to ensure that violence does not become the norm in any country, shape or form. We sincerely hope that Robert Fico will recover soon and express our solidarity with the people of Slovakia," the Ukrainian leader said in a post on social media platform X.

It is worth noting that Fico is known for his pro-russian views and has repeatedly spoken out against helping Ukraine while Kyiv is fighting russia's full-scale aggression.

Since the beginning of the great war in Ukraine, Slovakia has tried to help the Ukrainian army as much as possible, even providing Kyiv with its aviation in the form of helicopters. However, after Fico took office as prime minister, assistance to Ukraine stopped.

Nevertheless, Ukraine stands in solidarity with Slovakia and expressed its condemnation of the Slovak prime minister's act of violence.

For more details about Fico's position on Ukraine, please follow this link.

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