The man arrested on Wednesday over the shooting of Robert Fico, Slovakia’s prime minister, has been identified by local media as a poet and peace activist aged 71.
Robert Fico was hospitalized on Wednesday after several shots were heard by witnesses in the central town of Handlová. The prime minister was reportedly hit a number of times in the abdomen and his condition is believed to be critical, though details have been embargoed by the authorities. He was flown by air ambulance to a hospital in Banská Bystrica before 4 p.m., according to Slovak daily Dennik N.
Security officers wrestled a man to the ground immediately after the attack, according to Dennik N. journalist present at the scene. The paper later reported that the suspect was a 71-year-old poet and member of the leftist Rainbow Literary Club who had previously tried to establish his own party.
The daily reported that the man, named by Slovak media as Juraj Cintula from the western town of Levice, had announced online eight years ago that he wanted to gather signatures to set up a party called Movement Against Violence. Cintula is a former security guard who was in legal possession of a firearm, local media said.
Some media, including Slovak public broadcaster RTVS, have speculated that the motive for the shooting may have been revenge.
Russian connections?
Hungarian investigative journalist Szabolcs Panyi posted evidence on the X platform suggesting that Cintula was linked to Slovenski Branci, a pro-Russian paramilitary group that has been recruiting in Slovakia in recent years.
Security officers wrestled a man to the ground immediately after the attack, according to Dennik N. journalist present at the scene. The paper later reported that the suspect was a 71-year-old poet and member of the leftist Rainbow Literary Club who had previously tried to establish his own party.
The daily reported that the man, named by Slovak media as Juraj Cintula from the western town of Levice, had announced online eight years ago that he wanted to gather signatures to set up a party called Movement Against Violence. Cintula is a former security guard who was in legal possession of a firearm, local media said.
Some media, including Slovak public broadcaster RTVS, have speculated that the motive for the shooting may have been revenge.
Russian connections?
Hungarian investigative journalist Szabolcs Panyi posted evidence on the X platform suggesting that Cintula was linked to Slovenski Branci, a pro-Russian paramilitary group that has been recruiting in Slovakia in recent years.
‼️🇷🇺Wow. Looks like Slovak PM Robert Fico's reported assailant, writer Juraj Cintula, was associated with pro-Russian paramilitary group Slovenskí Branci (SB). Their leader was even trained by Russian ex-Spetsnaz soldiers. Read more on @VSquare_Project 👇https://t.co/2IzSHwq54d pic.twitter.com/M9fgp186R3
— Szabolcs Panyi (@panyiszabolcs) May 15, 2024
Source: Dennik N, PAP, channel3now.com
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