Assassination attempt on Fico: why the Slovak Prime Minister’s recovery will be “extremely long”

Assassination of Robert Fico/Getty Images, Collage 24 Channel

Prime Minister of Slovakia Robert Fico was wounded on May 15 during a government retreat. He was shot several times by 71-year-old writer Juraj Cintula.

After the assassination attempt, Fico was taken to the hospital, where several operations were performed. Now the prime minister’s health is satisfactory, but recovery will be quite long.

What is Fico’s condition

Robert Fico received gunshot wounds to the stomach. A few weeks after the assassination, his deputy reported that the recovery process was not going quickly and would be “extremely long.”

The politician will remain in the hospital for a long time. After two hours-long operations in the central town of Banska Bystrica, doctors assessed his condition as “satisfactory”.

The Prime Minister's recovery is finally on track ways. This recovery will be extremely long, since his injuries are very serious… He is now taking food, said Deputy Prime Minister Robert Kaliniak.

Formerly government adviser Eric Kaliniak, who was present during the shooting said that only “millimeters” saved Fico from being fatally wounded.

“The bullets entered the small intestine so that it was shot through five times, but the doctors worked miracles,” added Eric Kalinyak.

Attempt on Fico: the main thing

• Shots were fired in the city of Gandlov, where Fico arrived for a government retreat. Someone from the crowd turned to him with the words: “Robert, come here.” When the prime minister approached he was shot. The politician was taken by helicopter to the nearest hospital in Banska Bystrica. He was conscious.
• The attacker was detained almost immediately. He turned out to be 71-year-old Juraj Tsintula, who explained his action by saying that he did not agree with the government’s policy. Investigators are checking whether he had accomplices, because after the attack, Tsintula’s Facebook page was deleted and the correspondence disappeared.
• Fico’s condition was critical, but he was stabilized. The Slovak Defense Minister said that the doctors performed miracles. However, the prime minister cannot yet be transported to a hospital in Bratislava.