Update 8.52pm: Slovakian deputy prime minister believes Fico will survive the assassination attempt as the operation went well and is not in a life-threatening situation at this moment.

“Fortunately, as far as I know, the operation went well and I guess in the end he will survive,” Taraba said in an interview with the BBC’s Newshour program.

Slovakian Deputy Prime Minister Tomáš Taraba

Original news Story 10:52am:
Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico is fighting for his life after a targeted assassination attempt following a government meeting in Handlova. The assailant shot Fico multiple times, leaving him in a critical condition. Fico was swiftly transported to a local hospital before being airlifted to a major trauma center in Banska Bystrica, where he is receiving urgent medical attention.

Law enforcement officers promptly detained the suspected gunman at the scene, according to reports from Slovakia’s state news agency TASR. The motive behind the attack remains under investigation, though initial assessments suggest it was a deliberate and premeditated act.

President Zuzana Čaputová swiftly condemned the assault, describing it as “brutal and reckless.” Expressing shock over the incident, Čaputová extended her heartfelt wishes for Fico’s swift and full recovery.

Fico, a seasoned politician, clinched his third term as prime minister last October after a campaign that garnered attention for its criticism of western support for Ukraine. Promising to halt Slovak military aid to Ukraine and block its NATO aspirations, Fico’s stance reflected his alignment with Kremlin interests. His sympathies towards Russian President Vladimir Putin have been evident, with Fico often echoing Putin’s narrative on Ukraine.

Throughout his political career, Fico has maintained a close alliance with Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban, particularly in their shared skepticism towards the European Union. This political camaraderie has often placed Fico at odds with EU policies, garnering both praise and criticism domestically and internationally.

Fico’s previous tenures as prime minister were not without controversy, notably marked by mass protests following the murder of investigative journalist Jan Kuciak and his fiancée, Martina Kušnírová. Kuciak’s reporting exposed corruption within Slovakia’s elite circles, leading to public outrage and demands for accountability.

European leaders, including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, have joined in condemning the attack on Fico. They have expressed solidarity with Slovakia and offered prayers for Fico’s recovery, denouncing violence as antithetical to democratic principles. The incident has sent shockwaves across Slovakia and the broader European community, highlighting the fragility of political stability in the region.