Slovak Court Sentences Attacker to 21 Years for Prime Minister Assassination Attempt

Juraj Cintula, a 72-year-old Slovak writer and poet, was sentenced to 21 years in maximum-security prison for the attempted assassination of Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico in May 2024. Cintula shot Fico multiple times during a public event in Handlová, injuring the prime minister in the abdomen, hip, hand, and foot; Fico underwent extensive surgery and has since recovered, returning to work two months later. The court found Cintula guilty of terrorism, concluding that the attack was politically motivated, as he opposed Fico's government policies, including ending military aid for Ukraine and dissolving a special anti-corruption office. Despite Cintula's claims that he intended only to harm Fico's health and not to kill, the court emphasized the attack targeted the prime minister specifically and was an incitement against the government. Cintula refused to testify in court but maintained that his disagreement with government policies was the motive behind the attack. The verdict was unanimous, with the court considering Cintula's age and lack of prior criminal record in deciding against a life sentence.