FICO

Picture taken on May 16, 2024 shows the hospital in Banska Bystrica, Slovakia where Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico is being treated after he was shot "multiple times" the day before

Authorities charged an alleged gunman Thursday with the attempted murder of Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, saying the shooting was sparked by the election win last month of a Fico ally.

The Slovak Prime Minister, Robert Fico, has regained consciousness, although he remains in a serious condition following an attack. The announcement came during a late-night press conference held by Slovakia's interior minister. Fico, aged 59, was shot in Handlova, and his surgery lasted more than three hours due to the severity of his injuries, which posed a significant risk to his life.

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico fought for his life in the hospital Wednesday after being shot multiple times in what the government called a "political assault," as world leaders reacted with shock and condemnation after the shooting.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said he strongly condemns "the heinous assassination attempt" against the PM and wished him a speedy recovery.

BELGRADE - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Wednesday he was shocked by the attempt to assassinate Slovakian PM Robert Fico.

"I am shocked by the attempted assassination of Robert Fico, a great friend to me and to Serbia. Dear friend, I pray for you and for your health," Vucic wrote in a post on his predsednikrs account on the social media network X.

The Prime Minister of Slovakia, Robert Fico, was the target of an attempted attack, with no current information available regarding his condition. The incident has sparked tensions within the ruling Smer party, leading to accusations and counter-accusations regarding responsibility for the attack.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has expressed his shock at the "heinous attack" on his Slovak counterpart, Robert Fico, who has been injured in a shooting and taken to hospital.

"Shocked by the heinous attack against the Prime Minister of Slovakia Robert Fico. Such acts of violence have no place in our societies. I wish him a speedy recovery," Mitsotakis tweeted.

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico was on Wednesday shot and hospitalised after a cabinet meeting in the central town of Handlova, local media said.

Fico, a populist leader accused of being Kremlin-friendly, has been prime minister since last year.

Slovakia will on Saturday hold the first round of a presidential election that is a battle between the Central European country's Russia-leaning ruling camp and a pro-Ukraine opposition-backed candidate.

Parliament speaker Peter Pellegrini and liberal ex-foreign minister Ivan Korcok are the clear frontrunners among nine contenders.

BRATISLAVA - In an exclusive interview for Tanjug, Slovak PM Robert Fico said on Thursday his country saw no reason to recognise the so-called Kosovo.

Fico said Slovakia was a small country adhering to the principle that small countries that did not resolve their problems by military means could rely only on international law.

Meanwhile, President Caputova, the most trusted Slovak politician, does not often talk about how often she and her daughters receive various threats, including death threats. Yet earlier this week, she posted on social media that she is prepared to take legal action against Smer leader and former PM Robert Fico.