Slovak authorities have charged a man in connection with the attempted assassination of Prime Minister Robert Fico.
Authorities charged a man Thursday with attempted premeditated murder after he shot Fico five times on Wednesday in the central town of Handlova, the interior minister said. The 59-year-old prime minister is no longer in a ‘life-threatening condition.
“The attempt on Fico’s life was politically motivated”, Slovakia’s Interior Minister Matuš Šutaj-Eštok said at a news conference.
Eštok said the suspect, believed to be 71, was a “lone wolf” and did not belong to any political party but had previously taken part in anti-government protests.
Slovakia’s prime minister is no longer in a life-threatening condition after being shot multiple times at point-blank range, his deputy prime minister said.
However, Defense Minister Robert Kalinak said on Thursday that Fico is “not out of the woods yet” as he continues to recover in hospital.
“Unfortunately, I cannot report I have good news because the extent of the injuries sustained is so extensive that the body’s response will be very difficult in the days to come.” He called the assassination attempt on Fico “premeditated”.
The populist leader had been attending a political event in Handlova when the shooting took place, sending shockwaves through the central European country.
Fico came to power on a pro-Russian and anti-US message. In January, he stopped aid to Ukraine. He has previously expressed support for Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Slovakia, a nation of 5.4 million is a member of NATO and the EU.
