News about Robert Fico

Alleged gunman Juraj Cintula, 71, (left) is facing life in prison if convicted of the 'lone wolf', 'politically motivated' assassination attempt on the pro-Putin (inset) Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico (right), as it emerged he holds a range of political views. The poet and retired security guard has rallied against communism, migrants, and violence - and has links to a pro-Russian militia. But, in a further contradiction, footage emerged on Thursday showing Cintula at a protest against Mr Fico three weeks ago - where he is heard shouting: 'Long live Ukraine!'

Robert Fico, 59, was blasted from near-point-blank range by 71-year-old Juraj Cintula, a writer from Levice, as he greeted supporters outside government offices north-east of the capital

Robert Fico, 59, was targeted by a gunman as he greeted supporters in Handlova, north-east of the capital Bratislava, following a Slovak government meeting. But when exactly did the incident happen and what has been revealed since it occurred? Here is a full timeline of the key events leading up to and following the harrowing incident which occurred yesterday.

Robert Fico, 59, was blasted from near-point-blank range by 71-year-old Juraj Cintula, a writer from Levice, as he greeted supporters outside government offices north-east of the capital Bratislava yesterday. The prime minister was rushed to hospital by air ambulance to undergo life-saving surgery late last night, and is now said to be in a 'serious but stable' condition. Cintula meanwhile has been arrested and charged with attempted murder, a crime which carries a penalty of 25 years to life in prison should he be found guilty, according to Slovakian press. Authorities later decided to place Cintula's spouse under protection for fear that Fico's enraged supporters would seek retribution after Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok Estok warned the country was 'on the edge of a civil war' amid the fallout. The pensioner was seen covering her face with a magazine as she was hurriedly ushered out of her apartment by a masked policeman.

The Slovakian prime minister is no longer in a life-threatening condition and 'will survive' after he was shot five times in a 'politically motivated' assassination attempt, his deputy has said. But who is Robert Fico's wife, Svetlana Ficova? How long have the couple been married and do they have any children together? Here is everything you need to know about Svetlana Ficova.

Robert Fico, 59, was targeted by a gunman as he greeted supporters in Handlova, north-east of the capital Bratislava, following a Slovak government meeting yesterday. The shooter, 71-year-old Juraj Cintula from Levice, could be seen waiting at a barrier for the PM to approach before drawing his weapon in footage published by Slovak outlet RTV Prievidza. Despite being flanked by five guards, Cintula managed to fire off five shots at point-blank range before being taken down by the PM's security detail. The prime minister was rushed to a nearby hospital in a helicopter following the shooting and underwent lifesaving surgery. Slovakia's deputy prime minister Tomas Taraba said this morning that Mr Fico is 'not in [a] life-threatening situation at this moment'. 'As far as I know, the operation went well and I guess that at the end he will survive.'

The man accused of shooting the Slovakian prime minister is believed to be a writer and a poet, who founded an 'anti-violence' movement. Juraj Cintula, 71, from Levice has been identified by Slovakian media as the gunman in yesterday's assassination attempt on Robert Fico, 59. Fico was meeting a crowd of supporters in in Handlova, north-east of Bratislava, following a Slovak government meeting when the shooter fired five times at point-blank range. In 2015 he is believed to have founded an anti-violence movement in his hometown. He said: 'Every normal person rejects violence. Our goal is to unite people, preserve peace and restore democracy. It is very difficult because no one trusts anyone anymore. The world is full of chaos and hatred.'

The pro-Putin prime minister of Slovakia was recovering in hospital last night after being shot in an assassination bid that triggered alarm bells across Europe. Robert Fico was beckoned over to meet a crowd of supporters before a gunman leaned across and fired five times at point-blank range, sending the divisive politician sprawling to the ground. Bodyguards pounced on the would-be assassin as Mr Fico was carried into a government limousine which sped away before he was airlifted to hospital. His condition was critical, however Slovak deputy prime minister Tomas Taraba told the BBC that 'the operation went well', adding he was confident that 'he will survive'. As police said they had detained 71-year-old poet Juraj Cintula on suspicion of the shooting in Handlova, central Slovakia.

So Wednesday's shooting of the Slovak prime minister, Robert Fico, has inevitably sent political shockwaves far from his homeland. Not since 1914 and the shooting of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo has an assassination been attempted at such a delicate time in European politics. That, too, had taken place in a seeming backwater - in that case, an obscure corner of the Balkans. But the ensuing domino effect and the ultimate horrors of the Great War that resulted are easily remembered. Political violence can all-too-readily lead to destructive chaos. Only independent since 1993, Slovakia's short life saw it join the European Union in 2004. But the confident expectation then that Europe would be a 'continent of peace' now looks empty - punctured by Russia 's bloody onslaught on Slovakia's immediate neighbour, Ukraine.

This is the horrifying moment the Prime Minister of Slovakia, Robert Fico, was shot point blank in the stomach and arm by a '71-year-old assassin' who attempted to flee. Footage circulating on social captured the shocking moment Fico, 59, was attacked across a barrier as he greeted adoring fans in Handlova, north-east of Bratislava, following a Slovak government meeting. As the prime minister shook the hands of waving and cheering citizens, his security personnel stood on guard behind him, before chaos was unleashed. An individual from within the crowd can be seen lunging forward, with a gun in hand as he begins shooting in the direction of the PM who is out of the camera frame. The security scrambled to tackle the man, who is reportedly 71-year-old Juraj C, from Levice, to the ground while shoving in to the metal barriers and knocking him to the floor. The crowds descend into chaos and panic as several of the security team pounce on the shooter and scramble to get around the gate to reach injured Fico.

There was an immediate outpouring of support and well-wishes from Heads of State including Austria, Poland , Italy and Romania , who were quick to condemn the attack.

Russian President Vladimir Putin described the shooting as a 'heinous crime ' and said he hoped the 'courageous' Fico would recover quickly. 'I know Robert Fico to be a courageous and strong-spirited man. I very much hope that these qualities will help him to withstand this difficult situation,' Putin said in a statement released by the Kremlin. President Joe Biden condemned the attempted assassination as a 'horrific act of violence' and said the U.S. Embassy was ready to assist the government there, according to a statement released by the White House . 'I am alarmed to hear reports of an attack on Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico,' Biden said. 'We condemn this horrific act of violence. Our embassy is in close touch with the government of Slovakia and ready to assist.' Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: 'Shocked to hear this awful news. All our thoughts are with Prime Minister Fico and his family.'

The 59-year-old took power in Slovakia for the fourth time last October and has turned the country's foreign policy towards more pro-Russian views.

The 59-year-old took power in Slovakia for the fourth time last October and has turned the country's foreign policy towards more pro-Russian views. He has also initiated reforms of criminal law and the media, which have raised concerns over weakening the rule of law. During a three-decade career, Fico has skilfully weaved between pro-European mainstream and nationalistic anti-Brussels and anti-American positions. He has done this while showing a willingness to change course depending on public opinion or changed political realities.

Latest updates as Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico has been shot and wounded in an assassination attempt in Handlova. Mr Fico was taken to hospital after he was struck by bullets to his abdomen shortly after he attended a government meeting some 150 kilometres north-east of the capital Bratislava.

The Prime Minister of Slovakia is fighting for his life after being shot in the stomach and arm by a '71-year-old assassin' who was bundled to the ground by cops as he attempted to flee. Robert Fico, 59, was shot in Handlova, north-east of Bratislava, following a Slovak government meeting. The gunfire took place in front of the House of Culture, before a man, who according to Pluska news site is 71-years-old and named Juraj C, was quickly pounced upon and detained by security officials. A witness told Slovakian news site Dennik , that Fico had left the building to greet people who had gathered to catch a glimpse of him before 'several shots were fired'. Fico then reportedly fell to the ground, where she claimed to have seen wounds on his head and chest. Fico then reportedly fell to the ground, where she claimed to have seen wounds on his head and chesFico then reportedly fell to the ground, where she claimed to have seen wounds to his head and chest.

Robert Fico was shot in Handlova, north-east of Bratislava, following a Slovak government meeting, news agency TASR reported on Wednesday.

Robert Fico, the Slovakian king, said today that he learned about the scheme by taking notes ahead of a meeting of European leaders in Paris.

The face of Europe is dramatically shifting from day to day, as terrorist attacks and out-of-control immigration have stifled the EU's idyll of passport-free travel between its member states. Border checks are springing up across the bloc, with governments attempting to restore their authority and improve national security to protect citizens.

'The bottom of the barrel is now visible,' NATO's most senior military official, Admiral Rob Bauer said on Tuesday at the Warsaw Security Forum. 'We started to give away from half-full or lower warehouses in Europe,' he added

The heeds of the UK, Germany, Italy, Poland, Japan, France, Canada, Romania, and the EU were among the callers. In Congress, Ukraine's assistance hit a snag, with Republican support for providing additional billions in assistance decreasing. Robert Fico, the Czech nationalist party in Slovakia, who has a pro-Kremlin platform, roared to victory in parliamentary elections. He ran on halting assistance to Ukraine.

Over the weekend, Robert Fico, a pro-Moscow nationalist, won early parliamentary elections in Slovakia, placing another Putin aide in the leadership of a European Union nation. Meanwhile, politicians dropped a $6 billion aid package that was supposed to assist Kyiv in its war against Russia during a tense weekend in Washington. But during a pivotal juncture in the on-going war, Ukraine and its stifling allies will be hoping that the waver in support is just a temporary one, even as Kyiv's attempts to make strides in its sluggish counteroffensive as winter comes.

In Slovakia's latest parliamentary elections, former prime minister Robert Fico and the leftist Smer (Direction) party won with 23.3% of the seats, but the opposition will have to form a coalition government. The populist served as prime minister between 2006 and 2010 and again from 2012 to 2018