Slovakia's Supreme Court has upheld a lower court ruling that convicted a man in the attempted assassination of the country's leader nearly two years ago. The court ruled Wednesday to confirm the 21-year prison sentence for Juraj Cintula, 73, who opened fire on populist Prime Minister Robert Fico on May 15, 2024.
The attack occurred in the town of Handlova, about 140 kilometers northeast of Bratislava, as Fico greeted supporters following a government meeting. Cintula was arrested immediately and has been in custody since. He claimed his motive was disagreement with government policies, including the cancellation of a special prosecution office dealing with corruption and the end of military help for Ukraine. However, he rejected the accusation of terrorism, saying he wanted to harm Fico but not kill him.
Fico was shot in the abdomen and underwent a five-hour surgery, followed by another two-hour operation two days later. He has since recovered. The lower court sentenced Cintula on October 21, and he appealed. Wednesday's ruling is final.
Fico has been a divisive figure since returning to power in 2023, with his pro-Russian and other policies prompting numerous protests.
