Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico was shot in the stomach and taken to hospital, according to the Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Lubos Blaha, quoted by the TASR news agency. The incident took place in the town of Handlova, some 150 kilometers northeast of the capital, according to Slovak television channel TA3. According to the news channel, cited by Reuters, the assailant shot the pro-Russian leader four times. A suspect has been arrested. The Vice President adjourned the current session of Parliament until further notice.
The events occurred in front of the local House of Culture. The Slovak daily Dennik N, whose reporter saw the head of government being taken away in a car by his bodyguards, said the suspected shooter had been apprehended by police. The police cordoned off the scene.
Slovak President Zuzana Caputova condemned a “brutal” attack and wished a good recovery to Robert Fico, who became prime minister again last year after having already held this position between 2012 and 2018 and between 2006 and 2010.
The populist leader distinguished himself in particular by refusing to continue to provide military aid to Ukraine in the face of the Russian invasion.
More information to come.