Bratislava [Slovakia], May 24: Slovak media stated the 71-year-old suspect's motive for opening fire, seriously injuring Prime Minister Robert Fico.
The man indicted in the shooting of Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has just confessed that the motive for the crime was the leader's policy towards Ukraine, according to The Kyiv Independent news site on May 24, citing information from Slovak media. .
Mr. Fico (60 years old) was shot as he left a government meeting in the town of Handlova in Slovakia on May 15. The attacker seriously injured the leader and underwent two surgeries.
Slovak Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok said the perpetrator's motive for the crime was political.
Suspect Juraj Cintula (71 years old) is a poet and political activist. According to court documents cited by the media, Mr. Cintula did not intend to kill but only wanted to "damage the health" of Mr. Fico.
Besides, the suspect also confessed that no one else knew about his plan. During questioning at Handlova police station, suspect Cintula said that he decided to "harm" Mr. Fico's health because he disagreed with some policies of the current government.
The suspect cited Mr. Fico's abolition of the special prosecutor's office, the agency responsible for investigating politically sensitive corruption cases, as well as his accusations of repression of cultural and media workers.
Notably, Mr. Cintula said he wanted to provide military aid to Ukraine. Several people testified that shortly before the shooting, Mr. Cintula had referred to Mr. Fico in a "hostile" manner and criticized the Slovakian Prime Minister 's friendly relations with Russia and Hungary.
After being elected in September 2023, Mr. Fico halted the supply of weapons from Slovakia's military warehouse to Ukraine and has repeatedly criticized both defense support for Ukraine and sanctions against Russia. However, Mr. Fico later supported Ukraine joining Europe.
If convicted, Cintula could face up to 25 years in prison.
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper