picture copyrightAFP
Could 15, 2024
Up to date Could 16, 2024
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, who was assassinated on Wednesday, has undergone surgical procedure, however his situation stays critical and his life remains to be in peril, the nation’s protection minister stated.
On Wednesday night on the BBC, Deputy Prime Minister of Slovakia Tomas Taraba stated that the measures carried out by medical doctors have been profitable and there was no risk to life.
Nevertheless, on Thursday, Slovakia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Protection Minister Robert Kaliniak stated at a press convention that the risk stays.
“Robert Fico’s situation nonetheless stays critical, medical doctors are doing every part doable to stabilize the affected person,” TASS company quotes Kalinyak. “We can not but state that the state of affairs is creating positively and his life just isn’t in peril.” The injuries are very critical.”
Within the night it was reported that 59-year-old Fico was operated on for about 5 hours, he’s in essential situation and medical doctors are preventing for his life.
“The Prime Minister is in essential situation, his life is in peril, and he’s nonetheless within the working room,” Inside Minister Matus Sutai Estok advised reporters on the Banska Bystrica hospital the place Fico was taken.
After this, Taraba stated that “the operation went nicely” and Fico’s life “just isn’t in peril.”
The assassination try on Robert Fico came about on Wednesday afternoon within the city of Gandlova after a authorities retreat. When the prime minister approached native residents, an unknown man shot him a number of instances.
Footage from the scene confirmed safety guards carrying the wounded Fico right into a automotive whereas police detained the attacker.
Play video, “Try on the Prime Minister of Slovakia. Video”, Period 0.4300:43 Video caption, Try on Fico and his evacuation – video
Authorities initially didn’t title the suspect, however native media realized all through the day that the shooter could have been an area 71-year-old author and political activist.
Within the night, Inside Minister Matus Sutai Estok truly confirmed these stories. “I feel I can verify that, sure,” he advised reporters.
The pinnacle of the Ministry of Inner Affairs additionally stated at a press convention that Fico was wounded within the abdomen.
“Preliminary data clearly factors to political motives,” he added.
Slovak media reported that the suspect was the founding father of a literary membership initially from town of Levice and an activist of the liberal opposition celebration Progressive Slovakia.
Journalists additionally came upon that the person wrote three poetry collections and is a member of the Affiliation of Slovak Writers.
The affiliation wrote on Fb that the person had certainly been a member since 2015, and added that if the shooter’s id was confirmed, his membership can be revoked instantly.
In social networks video appearedfilmed after the arrest, through which a person says that he shot Fico as a result of he didn’t agree with the insurance policies of the nation’s authorities.
The son of the alleged shooter advised Slovak outlet aktuality.sk that he “doesn’t perceive what his father was pondering, what he was planning and why this occurred.” He additionally added that the daddy legally owned a gun.
Photograph copyright: Reuters
Photograph caption, Assailant apprehended
World response to the assassination try
US President Joe Biden condemned the “horrific act of violence” and stated the US embassy was in “shut contact” with the Slovak authorities and was “prepared to assist.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that “there could be no justification for this heinous crime,” and in a telegram to Slovak President Zuzana Caputova, he famous that Robert Fico was a “courageous and strong-willed man.”
A spokesman for UN Secretary-Common António Guterres stated that “the Secretary-Common strongly condemns the surprising assault carried out right this moment.”
European Council President Charles Michel stated “nothing can justify violence or comparable assaults.”
Who’s Robert Fico
Robert Fico is the chief of the left-populist celebration “Course – Social Democracy” (Smer – SD) that he created. Final fall he turned prime minister of Slovakia for the fourth time. He first took this submit in 2006.
Throughout his present marketing campaign to energy, Robert Fico attracted consideration outdoors of Slovakia primarily along with his promise to not give Ukraine “any extra bullets.” Underneath the earlier authorities, Slovakia was one in all Ukraine’s most lively allies and equipped it with navy tools and ammunition freed from cost.
Photograph copyright: Reuters
Photograph caption: Fico believes that arms provides to Ukraine solely lengthen the bloodshed
Fico, having come to energy, fulfilled his promise – and Slovakia now not supplies free navy help to Ukraine. Fico states that arms deliveries solely lengthen the bloodshed, and that Ukraine ought to usually cede territory to Russia for the sake of peace.
Slovak and overseas political observers word that Robert Fico has steadily drifted over time from reasonable, mainstream pro-European positions to populist views and statements. As well as, lots of Fico’s opponents say he has typically demonstrated a willingness to alter his views merely to swimsuit the temper of the citizens.
Opponents additionally accuse the prime minister of allegedly liking authoritarian strategies of presidency, and this is among the explanation why, for instance, within the Ukrainian battle he truly helps Putin.
Fico’s new authorities initiated, amongst different issues, the reform of the state tv and radio firm. The tradition minister, former TV presenter Martina Šimkovičová, a promoter of the nationalist Slovak Nationwide Get together and a fan of assorted conspiracy theories, says that in its present kind, Radio and Tv of Slovakia is biased as a result of it criticizes the federal government.
The opposition and journalists reply by accusing Shimkovichova and the complete authorities of intending to show state radio and TV into their celebration mouthpiece.
