PM'S RECOVERY
Major health update on Slovakian PM’s condition as shooting suspect, 71, arrives in court after assassination attempt
The suspected shooter was seen in a heavily armoured police convoy arriving at the court hearing
A MAJOR update has been given on the condition of Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico after he was gunned down in a brutal attack that has left him fighting for his life.
It comes as the 71-year-old man suspected of trying to assassinate the controversial PM was seen being hauled into court this morning surrounded by heavily armed cops and police cars.
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The latest update comes from Health Minister Zuzana Dolinkova who announced Fico, 51, had a second serious surgery on Friday.
She says it has "contributed to a positive prognosis" and that the PM is awake in hospital but still in a serious condition.
The PM, 51, went through a reported three hours worth of urgent operations on Wednesday night after his injuries were labelled as "extraordinarily serious" when he entered hospital.
Slovakia's deputy prime minister Tomas Taraba said at the time: "Fortunately as far as I know the operation went well - and I guess in the end he will survive.
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"He's not in a life threatening situation at this moment."
It is unclear what surgery the PM had but it has been reported that three bullets struck him in the "politically motivated" assault.
Local media identified the suspect as Juraj Cintula - a Slovakian man from the town of Lavice.
Pictures showed the suspect being driven to his court hearing in Pezinok, northeast of the capital Bratislava.
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Officials are set to decide on the pre-trial detention arrangements after Cintula was charged with premeditated attempted murder.
A police convoy took him to the hearing as heavily armed cops surrounded the building both on rooftops and on the ground.
The activist previously claimed "the world is full of hatred" in a rant for the faction.
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."
Cintula also previously lambasted Fico's government for not combating gambling.
Authorities believe the attack was politically motivated.
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Horrifying footage captured the moment the politician was shot five times as his security team ran over to grab the OAP killer.
One bullet hit Fico in his abdomen, according to the country's defence minister Robert Kalinak.
Two others also struck the PM out of the five attempted hits.
Chilling footage caught the haunting moment gunshots rang out around the town of Handlova as people screamed at the sight of the stricken PM.
The shooter was stood just feet away from Fico when he launched the brutal assault.
Fico's bodyguards leapt over the barrier the gunman was hiding behind as they quickly pinned him down to the floor.
Pictures showed Juraj with blood pouring from his face as he was detained and dragged into a cop car.
The pro-Russian PM had come outside to meet with supporters as she shook hands with those being the barriers as he was attacked.
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President Zuzana Caputova condemned the "brutal and ruthless" attack, calling the shooting on her political partner an "attack on democracy".
Slovakian interior minister Matus Sutaj Estok labelled the shocking event as the "saddest moment" in Slovakia's 31-year history.
He echoed the president's thoughts saying: "An attack on Slovakia is an attack on democracy, on the state itself."
Interior minister Matus Sutaj Estok also said the preliminary information "clearly" points to a political motivation behind the shooting.
More footage showed Fico being carried and bundled into a car, flanked by his bodyguards, and driven away at speed for urgent medical help.
Initial treatment in Handlova saw the PM get life saving support before he was airlifted to Banska Bystrica.
His office claimed it would've taken "too long" to get to the capital of Bratislava safely.
Miriam Lapunikova, director of the F.D. Roosevelt University Hospital in Banska Bystrica where Fico is admitted, said the PM had undergone five hours of surgery with two teams to treat multiple wounds.
She said: "At this point his condition is stabilised but is truly very serious. He will be in the intensive care unit."
Deputy Prime Minister Robert Kalinak said doctors had managed to stabilise Fico's condition with procedures were underway to secure further improvement.
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The shooting was the first major assassination attempt on a European political leader in more than 20 years.
Who is Slovakian PM Robert Fico?
Slovakian prime minister Robert Fico won his country’s elections in September 2023 on a platform of pro-Russian and anti-Western sentiment.
It was his fourth term as prime minister leading the divisive Smer - meaning “Direction” - party.
The controversial leader, whose policies have been met with country-wide protests, is a supporter of Russian tyrant Vladimir Putin.
In January 2024 he said the only way to end the Ukraine war would be for Zelensky’s brave forces to give some of their land to Russian invaders.
He has also opposed Nato membership for Ukraine and said the nation is “not an independent and sovereign country”.
Fico said at the time: “What do they expect, that the Russians will leave Crimea, Donbas and Luhansk? That's unrealistic."
Before taking power in December, he promised to stop sending weapons to Ukraine.
He also assured voters he would block any attempts by Kyiv to join Nato and would oppose sanctions against Russia.
In a shocking claim, Fico said Ukraine joining the European military alliance would be “a basis for World War III, nothing else”.
Sickeningly, Fico has claimed that Ukraine - which has been fighting off Russia’s illegal invasion for more than two years - is “one of the most corrupt nations in the world”.
In stark contrast to the war-ravaged experiences of countless Ukrainians, Fico once claimed: “there’s no war in Kyiv,” describing life in the capital as “absolutely normal.”
He has also vowed to enforce a strict stance against migration, NGOs and has campaigned against the rights of the LGBTQ+ community.
Notorious for tirades against journalists, Fico has previously dubbed a major television network, two national newspapers and an online news outlet as his “enemies”.
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