Juraj Cintula, a 72-year-old pensioner, has been sentenced to 21 years in prison after being found guilty of terrorism for the assassination attempt on Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico. Cintula fired five shots at close range at Fico in May 2024, as the Prime Minister was reaching out to shake his hand, mistaking him for a supporter.
During the trial, Cintula denied intending to kill the Prime Minister, stating that he had intentionally aimed away from Fico’s vital organs. Security footage captured the moment the gunman fired, leading to a swift intervention by Fico’s bodyguards who rushed him into a car. The Prime Minister sustained serious abdominal injuries and underwent emergency surgery, with his condition initially described as life-threatening.
Cintula, who is also an amateur poet, claimed his actions were motivated by a desire to halt government policies he believed were detrimental to Slovakia. The Prime Minister himself has implicated opposition parties in fueling hatred that may have contributed to the attack, despite his own history of divisive rhetoric.
The court, presided over by Judge Igor Kralik, found the defendant guilty of terrorism, with the judge stating, “The court considers proven that the defendant did not attack a citizen but specifically the prime minister.” The defense’s attempt to reduce the charges to attacking a public official, a lesser offense, was unsuccessful.
Cintula’s legal team has indicated that they are likely to appeal the verdict.