Slovak Prime Minister injured in apparent assassination attempt

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fizzo is recovering from gunshot wounds sustained while greeting citizens and has regained consciousness following extensive surgery, as reported by Slovak media.

Details on the 59-year-old center-left nationalist populist politician's condition remain scarce, with neither the TV network TA3 nor the digital version of the newspaper Dennik providing further information.

Authorities initially stated that Fizzo's life was in serious jeopardy after the assassination attempt. However, there has been no official update on his condition since then.

The alleged assailant, a 71-year-old writer, has been apprehended by police and is currently in custody. Interior Minister Matus Sutai Estok labeled the motive behind the attack as "political."

Deputy Prime Minister Tomas Taraba, speaking to the BBC, expressed relief that Fizzo's life is no longer considered to be at immediate risk. Taraba conveyed shock over the attempted assassination and informed that Fizzo underwent extensive surgery at a hospital in Banska Bistrica.

Reports from Slovak media identify the suspect as a 71-year-old writer from the central region of the country. The individual, known for publishing poetry collections and being affiliated with the Slovak Writers' Association, legally possessed a firearm and had a license to carry, as stated by the suspect's son to the news website aktuality.sk.

In response to the incident, Estok announced heightened security measures for politicians and journalists, urging politicians across party lines to refrain from promoting hostility via social media platforms.

In a show of solidarity, liberal opposition leader Michal Simecha suspended all scheduled engagements, including an anti-government protest slated for the evening.

Meanwhile, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Constantinos Kombos, has expressed to his Slovakian counterpart Juraj Blanár, Cyprus' support and solidarity with Slovakia.

In a post in X, Kombos said that he is "deeply shocked by the assassination attempt on Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico.  Our thoughts and prayers are with PM Fico and his family during this difficult time", he noted.

Deeply shocked by the assasination attempt on #Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico.

I have contacted my counterpart Juraj Blanár and conveyed our support and solidarity.

Our thoughts and prayers are with PM Fico and his family during this difficult time.

— Constantinos Kombos (@ckombos) May 15, 2024

[With information from CNA]