US Secretary of State Antony Blinken engaged in a telephone discussion with Slovak Foreign Minister Juraj Blanar to convey solidarity in the aftermath of the assassination attempt on Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico, US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller gave a statement on Thursday. Blinken also expressed his hopes for the swift recovery of the critically injured Slovakian PM and denounced political violence in all its manifestations during the conversation with the Slovakian minister.
“Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke with Slovak Foreign Minister Juraj Blanar following the assassination attempt on Prime Minister Robert Fico. The Secretary expressed solidarity with Slovakia and his wishes for the Prime Minister’s speedy recovery. Secretary Blinken underlined the enduring bonds between the American and Slovak people. He condemned political violence in all its forms,” spokesperson Miller said in a statement.
CNN reported on Thursday that a politically motivated “lone wolf” has been charged in the assassination attempt on Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, as stated by the country’s interior minister. Fico’s health remains stable but serious following five close-range shots and surgery, according to his deputy.
The attempted assassination sent shockwaves through the nation in central Europe and sparked global outrage. According to CNN, the 59-year-old populist leader was targeted after an off-site government meeting in the town of Handlova on Wednesday. The leader, who returned to power last year, has faced protests in recent weeks due to his controversial policies.
As the prime minister approached a small group of people awaiting him, a potential shooter in the crowd surged forward and fired five shots at him from the opposite side of a security barrier.
On Thursday, hospital director Miriam Lapunikova stated that Fico was “stabilized but in a very serious condition” and would remain in the intensive care unit. She also noted that the prime minister underwent surgery performed by two surgical teams at the hospital, as reported by CNN.
The country’s Defence Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Robert Kalinak said Fico’s condition “has been stabilized overnight, more steps are being taken to better his health. The situation is really serious.”
The attempted assassination of Prime Minister Robert Fico has reverberated across Slovakia. The incident unfolded after an off-site government meeting in the central Slovak town of Handlova.
The suspected gunman, among a small crowd awaiting the Prime Minister outside the cultural center where the meeting occurred, allegedly targeted Fico. Footage from the scene captured the Prime Minister being hurried into a vehicle by his staff before being transported to a local hospital and subsequently transferred to a major trauma center in Banska Bystrica.
Thankfully, no other injuries were reported in the attack.