Summary
We’re closing this blog now but will be back to bring you any breaking news. In the meantime, here’s a rundown of the latest developments:
Slovakia’s prime minister, Robert Fico, was shot five times on Wednesday outside the House of Culture in the town of Handlová while meeting supporters, initially leaving him in critical condition.
There has been no official announcement about his condition but the prime minister “is expected to survive” after surgery, his deputy prime minister said. Tomáš Taraba told the BBC Fico was no longer in a life-threatening situation: “Fortunately as far as I know the operation went well – and I guess in the end he will survive. He is not in a life-threatening situation at this moment.
Taraba said Fico was “heavily injured”. He added: “One bullet went thought the stomach and the second one hit the joint – immediately he was transported to the hospital and then to the operation.” News outlet Aktuality.sk cited an unnamed source saying Fico was out of surgery and in stable condition.
Slovakia’s interior minister, Matúš Šutaj-Eštok, said initial information “clearly points to a political motivation” after Slovakia’s presidential election, referring to the April election won by a Fico ally, Peter Pellegrini.
The suspect is a 71-year-old man, according to local media reports. Slovak news media reported the shooter was a former security guard at a shopping mall as well as the author of three books of poetry and the founder of a literary society.
A video posted online appeared to show the alleged shooter in detention saying that he did not agree with the government’s policies, particularly what he described as the “liquidation” of the media.
News outlet Aktuality.sk cited his son as saying his father was the legal holder of a gun licence.
The outgoing president, Zuzana Čaputová, a political rival of Fico, described the violence as “unacceptable” in a televised statement. “The hateful rhetoric we’ve been witnessing in society leads to hateful actions,” she added. “Please, let’s stop it.”
Global leaders including Joe Biden, Ursula von der Leyen and Vladimir Putin condemned the attack on Fico. The US president said he was “alarmed” by the attack. Hungary’s Viktor Orbán, a close ally, said he was “deeply shocked by the heinous attack against my friend”. Putin said in a telegram sent to Čaputová: “I know Robert Fico as a courageous and strong-minded man. I very much hope that these qualities will help him to survive this difficult situation.”
Slovakia’s interior minister Matúš Šutaj-Eštok has said the suspected shooter “clearly” had a political motivation linked to the April election, in which Fico ally Peter Pellegrini triumphed over the liberal, pro-western opposition candidate Ivan Korčok.
Pellegrini’s victory cemented Fico’s grip on power by giving him and his allies control of major strategic posts. Here’s a bit more from our coverage at the time:
Pellegrini, 48, who favours a strong role for the state, heads the leftwing Hlas (Voice) party, which finished third in the vote and joined a governing coalition with Fico and the ultranationalist Slovak National party.
Critics worry Slovakia under Fico will abandon its pro-western course and follow Hungary’s direction under its populist prime minister, Viktor Orbán.
The new government immediately halted any arms deliveries to Ukraine. Thousands have taken to the streets across Slovakia recently to rally against Fico’s pro-Russian and other policies, including plans to amend the penal code and take control of the public media.
Korčok was critical of the government’s moves, which protesters fear could undermine the rule of law, while Pellegrini backed the new government and did not question its policies.
Prior to the vote, Pellegrini told the AFP news agency that the European Union and Nato were “divided between those who are in favour of the continuation of the war [between Russia and Ukraine] at all costs, and those who demand the start of peace negotiations”.
Robert Fico is a burly and brash political veteran known for his attacks on the media, NGOs and prosecutors.
Having enjoyed three previous stints as prime minister, Fico, 59, is well known to voters and observers – and critics, who accuse him of seeking to emulate Viktor Orbán, his friend in neighbouring Hungary, by trying to undermine checks and balances and cement his power while also taking a friendlier stance toward Russia.
Fico’s return to power last year has prompted concern inside and outside his country, which critics say is becoming increasingly febrile and polarised under his watch. Journalists in Slovakia have expressed alarm over a recent government decision that would replace the country’s public broadcaster and, they say, open it up to political influence.
Meanwhile, Fico’s move to close down a special prosecutor’s office focused on high-level corruption has raised the possibility that the EU could freeze some funding allocated to Slovakia.
Legislation that would label civil society groups that receive more than €5,000 (£4,300) a year in international funding as “organisations with foreign support” has also triggered worries in the EU and among NGOs. Amnesty International Slovakia has described the bill as “a thinly disguised attempt to stigmatise civil society organisations that are critical of the authorities and hamper their vital work”.
Fico is typical of the new wave of nationalist-populist politicians who have emerged over the last decade, riding the wave of resentment generated among tens of millions of Europeans by the disappointments of the 21st century.
Deputy PM says Fico ‘no longer in life-threatening condition’
Robert Fico “is expected to survive” after surgery, his deputy prime minister Tomáš Taraba said.
Taraba told the BBC Fico was no longer in a life-threatening situation.
He said: “Fortunately as far as I know the operation went well – and I guess in the end he will survive. He is not in a life-threatening situation at this moment.
“He was heavily injured – one bullet went thought the stomach and the second one hit the joint – immediately he was transported to the hospital and then to the operation.”
There has been no official announcement yet about the prime minister’s condition.
Updated
'Fico out of surgery', source tells local media
Prime minister Robert Fico is out of surgery, a source told Aktuality.sk. His condition has been described as stable.
Former police president Štefan Hamran said the security guards are supposed to protect the prime minister with their bodies when he goes into a crowd of people, Dennik N reported.
He said: “When they don’t go before him, the prime minister then presents an open target.”
Slovakia’s president said she was shocked at the news that the country’s prime minister, Robert Fico, had been seriously injured in a shooting.
Zuzana Caputova pleaded for people to ‘stop hateful rhetoric’ during a press conference from the presidential palace in Bratislava.
What we know about the shooting
Slovakia’s prime minister, Robert Fico, is in a “life-threatening” and “serious” condition after being shot multiple times on Wednesday outside the House of Culture in the town of Handlová.
Robert Kaliňák, Slovakia’s defence minister, said Fico is still undergoing surgery and is in “extraordinarily serious” condition.
Slovakia’s interior minister, Matúš Šutaj-Eštok, said the perpetrator of the attack fired at Fico five times. He said initial information “clearly points to a political motivation” after Slovakia’s presidential election. According to Denník N, Fico was shot in the abdomen and left arm.
Šutaj-Eštok described the incident as “the saddest moment in the 31 years of history of Slovakia … An attack on the prime minister is an attack on democracy. It is an attack on the state itself.”
Fico had been conscious while being transported to the hospital and he is being treated for bullet wounds, according to a hospital spokesperson.
The suspect is a 71-year-old man, according to local media reports. Slovak news media reported the shooter was a former security guard at a shopping mall.
Global leaders including Joe Biden, Ursula von der Leyen and Vladimir Putin condemned the attack on Fico. The US president said he was “alarmed” by the attack. Hungary’s Viktor Orbán, a close ally, said he was “deeply shocked by the heinous attack against my friend”. Von der Leyen said: “I strongly condemn the vile attack on Prime Minister Robert Fico.
Updated
EU leaders have condemned the “cowardly” assassination attempt on the Slovakian present, Robert Fico, warning that violence has “no place” in European politics.
Olaf Scholz, the chancellor of Germany, a country which has itself experienced a wave of violent attacks on politicians in the past month, said: “I am deeply shocked by the news of the cowardly attack on Slovakian Prime Minister Fico. Violence must not exist in European politics.”
Speaking just three weeks before elections to the European parliament, Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, echoed his message, condemning what she said was a “vile attack” on “both the prime minister and democracy”.
European politicians have warned of the groundwork for more likely violence being laid by rising polarisation in political discourse on both the left and the right.
In a statement, the liberal political group Renew said it was “increasingly alarmed by the rising polarisation within our political sphere fuelled by extremist ideologies, both left- and right-wing.”
This “climate of heightened division is laying the groundwork for an environment where acts of violence are more likely to occur, and also wrongly justified by those who seek to disrupt and dominate rather than engage and debate”, it added.
Updated
According to the television channel TV JOJ, the police are questioning the suspect’s wife.
Interior minister Matúš Šutaj Eštok said he will ask the deputy Prime Minister to convene the State Security Council, Dennik K reported.
“We will do everything to guarantee the safety of people in Slovakia,” Eštok said.
Video footage shows Robert Fico approaching a group of supporters outside the House of Culture in the town of Handlová, about 90 miles (150km) north-east of the capital, Bratislava.
A man in the crowd is then seen grabbing a gun and firing five shots, hitting Fico who falls to the ground as security personnel tackle the shooter.
The mayor of Bratislava, Matúš Vallo, has described the attack on Robert Fico as “inexcusable and shameful”, Denník N reported.
A statement by the mayor carried by the Slovakian newspaper reads:
I sincerely wish him to recover from his injuries as soon as possible. The hatred and tension that has built up in society has taken a heavy toll … The most important thing at this moment is that they do not escalate further, that politicians refrain from accusing each other and making strong statements. Also considering what preceded these shots and what could still follow.
Robert Fico, the Slovakian prime minister, was injured during a shooting which was filmed by broadcaster RTV Prievidza.
The footage shows Fico approaching a group of supporters outside the House of Culture in the town of Handlová, about 90 miles (150km) north-east of the capital, Bratislava.
A man in the crowd is then seen grabbing a gun and firing five shots, hitting Fico, who falls to the ground as security personnel tackle the shooter.
Updated
'We can't respond to hate with hate': Slovakia's ministers appeal for calm
Slovakia’s police will hold a press conference tomorrow, the country’s interior and defence minister told reporters outside the hospital in Banská Bystrica.
Interior minister Matúš Šutaj-Eštok said officials will do everything possible to make sure that the people of Slovakia are safe.
He said he was in the surgery theatre with Prime Minister Fico, and that “what was on my mind was how can anyone be this hateful?” He added:
Please let’s not make hate the response to hate. That is an appeal to all politicians … I am asking this of all of society: let’s calm down. Let’s not start killing each other just because I can’t respect another’s opinion.
He added that he personally believed that “there are a number of people who should take a look in the mirror” for contributing to this situation, and urged journalists, the public and politicians to “stop spreading hate”.
We can’t respond to hate with hate. That is why I would like to ask you all to stop all this hate on social media, targeted at this or that political party … Stop it now, right now.
Updated
Fico in 'life-threatening' and 'serious' condition – surgeon
The surgeon working on Slovakia’s prime minister, Robert Fico, said his condition is “life-threatening” and “serious”, the country’s defence and interior ministers said.
Fico has been undergoing surgery for more than three and a half hours now, they said, adding that there is a “huge medical team trying to reverse the effects of this assassination attempt”.
Updated
Interior minister says attacker fired five shots in 'politically motivated' attack
Slovakia’s interior minister, Matúš Šutaj-Eštok, said the perpetrator of the attack fired at Robert Fico five times and the prime minister was in “critical condition”.
He said initial information “clearly points to a political motivation” after Slovakia’s presidential election. He also urged journalists and politicians to “stop spreading hate” on social media, adding:
What has started now was sown by many of you, by your hate.
Updated
'The saddest moment in the history of Slovakia', says interior minister
Slovakia’s interior minister, Matúš Šutaj-Eštok said Slovakia has always been known as “a country of people who are tolerant … and accepting of other opinions”.
At a news conference outside the hospital, said:
What happened today is a stigma that will haunt us for many years to come.
All they are focusing on is Robert Fico’s condition “and we hope that he is strong enough to deal with this trauma”, he said.
He added:
Today is the saddest moment in the 31 years of history of Slovakia … An attack on the prime minister is an attack on democracy. It is an attack on the state itself.
Updated
Fico in ‘extraordinarily serious’ condition and still in surgery as medics ‘fight for his life’, says minister
Slovakia’s defence minister, Robert Kaliňák, has said the country’s prime minister, Robert Fico, is still undergoing surgery and is in “extraordinarily serious” condition.
Kaliňák, in a news conference outside the hospital in Banská Bystrica, said medical workers are “fighting for the life” of Fico, who suffered “serious polytrauma after several shots”.
Fico’s “health is serious, his situation is bad”, he said.
We do not have good news at the moment and we put our hope in the hands of the medical specialists at the hospital.
Kaliňák said the surgery has now been going on for three and a half hours, and that more medical information will be available later.
Updated
Police are continuing to work at the scene of the shooting of Robert Fico, outside the House of Culture in the town of Handlová.
Slovakian police have not yet issued a statement on the shooting incident.
Updated
Here’s some more international reaction to the shooting of Robert Fico in what Slovakian officials have described as an assassination attempt:
Anna Donáth, the president of Hungary’s liberal Momentum party, said:
I was shocked by the assassination attempt on Robert Fico. We witnessed an attempted political assassination in the heart of Europe. Wishing the Slovak prime minister a swift recovery!
Simon Harris, Ireland’s taoiseach said:
I am deeply shocked by today’s attack on prime minister of Slovakia Robert Fico.
The attack on Prime Minister Fico is an attack on democracy, a fundamental value of the European Union and one we all share.
All of our thoughts and our solidarity are with Robert, his family and the Slovakian people.
Updated
The suspect believed to have shot Robert Fico is a 71-year-old former security guard who approached the Slovakian prime minister after he left the House of Culture in Handlová, Sky News reported.
A Slovakian reporter told the outlet that the suspect addressed Fico as “Robo” – a shortened version of Robert – before proceeding to shoot him multiple times.
Thomas Verniek told Sky:
We know the attacker was a senior former security guard, but that is all we know right now.
Updated
What do we know about the suspect?
A suspect has been detained after Slovakia’s prime minister, Robert Fico, was injured in a shooting on Wednesday. Here’s what we know so far:
Fico suffered “life-threatening” injuries when he was shot and wounded in an assassination attempt outside the House of Culture in the town of Handlová, about 90 miles (150km) north-east of the capital, Bratislava.
Fico, 59, was “shot multiple times” and was rushed to hospital by helicopter to Banská Bystrica, as it would take too long to return to Bratislava, the government said.
Fico had been conscious while being transported to the hospital and he is being treated for bullet wounds, according to a hospital spokesperson.
The suspect is a 71-year-old man, according to local media reports. Slovak news media reported the shooter was a former security guard at a shopping mall, an author of three collections of poetry and a member of the Slovak Society of Writers.
The attacker was the legal holder of a gun licence, news outlet Atkuality.sk cited his son as saying. “I have absolutely no idea what my father intended, what he planned, what happened,” the shooter’s son is quoted as saying.
The motive was not immediately clear.
A eyewitness has described hearing three shots before the Slovakian prime minister fell to the ground. “We thought someone was joking around and had thrown a firecracker on the ground,” she said.
Updated
Putin says there is 'no justification for this monstrous crime'
Russia’s president, Vladimir Putin, has praised the Slovakian prime minister, Robert Fico, as a “courageous and strong-minded man” and wished him a “speedy and full recovery’”.
In a telegram to Slovakia’s outgoing president, Zuzana Čaputová, reported by Reuters, Putin said:
There can be no justification for this monstrous crime. I know Robert Fico as a courageous and strong-minded man. I very much hope that these qualities will help him to survive this difficult situation.
Updated
Valérie Hayer, head of Renew, the liberal political group in the European parliament, has said:
I was shocked to learn of the attack that has just wounded Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico. I condemn in the most explicit and unequivocal terms the use of violence against any political leader. Nothing in a democracy can be resolved by such acts.
Updated
A woman who was at the scene of an attack on Robert Fico has described hearing three shots before the Slovakian prime minister fell to the ground.
Updated
The Nato secretary general, Jens Stoltenberg, said he is “shocked and appalled” by the attack on Robert Fico, adding that his thoughts are with the Slovakian prime minister, his loved ones and the people of Slovakia.
Shocked and appalled by the shooting of Prime Minister Robert Fico. I wish him strength for a speedy recovery. My thoughts are with Robert Fico, his loved ones, and the people of Slovakia.
— Jens Stoltenberg (@jensstoltenberg) May 15, 2024
Updated
Slovakia’s interior minister, Matúš Šutaj-Eštok, has said the attack on Robert Fico will be investigated “as soon as possible”, as he said the country is “experiencing the worst day of its democracy”.
In a Facebook post, he wrote:
For the first time in 31 years of our democratic sovereign republic, it happened that someone decided to express political opinion not in elections but with a gun on the street.
He added that the assassination attempt “deserves common and unambiguous condemnation”, but warned against “spreading political hate”, adding:
Reconciliation of the nation and calming of the passions can then be followed by such a step. It’s our only hope for the future.
Updated
Biden condemns 'horrific act of violence'
Joe Biden has also released a statement in which he said he is “alarmed” to hear reports of an attack on Robert Fico.
The US president said he and his wife, Jill, are praying for Fico’s swift recovery, and that their thoughts are with the Slovakian prime minister’s family and the people of Slovakia. Biden added:
We condemn this horrific act of violence. Our embassy is in close touch with the government of Slovakia and ready to assist.
Updated
The EU foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, has said he is “shocked” by the news of the attack on Robert Fico.
Condemning the attack on X, Borrell said his thoughts are with the Slovakian prime minister and his family, adding:
Once again we are witnessing unacceptable attacks against political representatives.
I am shocked by the news of the attack on Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, which I comdemn.
— Josep Borrell Fontelles (@JosepBorrellF) May 15, 2024
Once again we are witnessing unacceptable attacks against political representatives.
My thoughts are with Prime Minister Fico and his family.
Updated
Video shows the moment that chimes rang out in Slovakia’s parliament followed by a short message informing members that the prime minister, Robert Fico, had been shot.
'An attack on democracy': Slovakia's president says police have arrested attacker
Slovakia’s outgoing president, Zuzana Čaputová, has confirmed that police detained the suspected perpetrator at the scene and said officials will provide more information when it is possible.
“I am shocked. We are all shocked by the terrible and vile attack on Prime Minister Robert Fico,” she said in a statement posted to X.
We may not fully comprehend yet the seriousness of what has happened today. The shooting of the Prime Minister is first and foremost an attack on a human being – but it’s also an attack on democracy. Violence is absolutely unacceptable. Hate speech and rhetoric full of hate, which we witness across society, leads to hateful acts. Please, let us stop this.
She added:
The police have arrested the perpetrator and will provide further information when possible. Until then, let us not pass quick judgments, please. I think that the most important thing we should all focus on at this moment is Robert Fico’s fast recovery.
I am shocked. We are all shocked by the terrible and vile attack on Prime Minister Robert Fico. We may not fully comprehend yet the seriousness of what has happened today. The shooting of the Prime Minister is first and foremost an attack on a human being — but it’s also an… pic.twitter.com/CrP6icgsWy
— Zuzana Čaputová (@ZuzanaCaputova) May 15, 2024
Updated
Russian ambassador condemns shooting
The Russian ambassador to Slovakia has condemned today’s shooting
“I strongly condemn this act of violence and express my conviction of the necessity of punishment for the perpetrators,” Igor Bratchikov said in a letter to Robert Fico, Reuters reported.
Fico’s critics have raised concerns over the past months that he is taking a more Russia-friendly approach to foreign policy.
Updated
The Socialists and Democrats group in the European parliament said “we are deeply shocked by the news” and wished Robert Fico a “speedy and full recovery.”
Europe’s Socialists suspended Fico’s Smer party last year.
We are deeply shocked by the news of the attack on Prime Minister Robert Fico and strongly condemn all forms of violence against politicians.
— S&D Group (@TheProgressives) May 15, 2024
We wish Robert Fico a speedy and full recovery.
Israel’s foreign minister, Israel Katz, said “we send our thoughts and prayers to Prime Minister Robert Fico and the people of Slovakia during this challenging time.”
On behalf of myself and the government of Israel, we send our thoughts and prayers to Prime Minister Robert Fico and the people of Slovakia during this challenging time.@SlovakiaMFA
— ישראל כ”ץ Israel Katz (@Israel_katz) May 15, 2024
Aktuality reports that Fico has three gunshot wounds: two on his arm and one in his abdomen.
And here is footage of Robert Fico, Slovakia’s prime minister, being wheeled into a hospital on a stretcher after today’s assassination attempt.
Roberta Metsola, the European parliament president, has condemned today’s shooting.
Shocked by the horrific attack on Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico in Handlova.
— Roberta Metsola (@EP_President) May 15, 2024
On behalf of @Europarl_EN, I condemn this violent act.
My thoughts are with him and his family during this very difficult moment.
Slovakia’s acting parliament president, Peter Žiga, said “I perceive this as an attack on the principles of Slovak democracy,” Reuters reported.
“Such a horrible act has never happened in Slovak history. I consider it to be the result of whipped-up passions and the division of the Slovak society into two irreconcilable camps,” he added.
Pedro Sánchez, Spain’s prime minister, said he is “horrified and outraged at the attack on the Slovak Prime Minister.”
“Spain stands with Robert Fico, his family and the Slovak people at this extremely difficult time. Nothing can ever justify violence.”
Horrified and outraged at the attack on the Slovak Prime Minister.
— Pedro Sánchez (@sanchezcastejon) May 15, 2024
Spain stands with Robert Fico, his family and the Slovak people at this extremely difficult time.
Nothing can ever justify violence.
Here’s more footage of today’s incident.
Slovakia has experienced several incidents of serious violence over the past few years.
In 2022, two people were killed in a shooting outside an LGBT venue in Bratislava.
In 2018, investigative journalist Ján Kuciak and his fiancée Martina Kušnírová were shot dead in their home.
Explainer: Who is Robert Fico?
Robert Fico, Slovakia’s prime minister, was shot today in the town of Handlová, where he had been meeting supporters, and taken to hospital.
Born into a working-class family on 15 September 1964, Fico – a lawyer by profession – began his political career with the Communist party shortly before the 1989 Velvet Revolution that led to the breakup of former Czechoslovakia.
He set up his centre-left Smer-SD party in 1999 after being turned down for a ministerial post by the Democratic Left, the Communists’ political heirs.
Embroiled in allegations of corruption he has always denied, Fico is brash and outspoken, with a penchant for bodybuilding, football and fast cars.
Fico admires both Vladimir Putin, saying he would not permit the Russian president’s arrest under an international warrant if he came to Slovakia, and Hungary’s illiberal leader, Viktor Orbán, “who defends the interests of his country and his people”.
The Smer leader is also a tactician: in a three-decade career, he has navigated successfully between mainstream, pro-EU positions and a fiercely nationalist, anti-western rhetoric destined mainly for domestic consumption, proving more than willing to change tack depending on public opinion or political reality.
'Shocked': Sunak says thoughts with Fico's family
The British prime minister, Rishi Sunak, said he is “shocked to hear this awful news. All our thoughts are with Prime Minister Fico and his family.”
Shocked to hear this awful news. All our thoughts are with Prime Minister Fico and his family. https://t.co/x6gb47kSBF
— Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) May 15, 2024
Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskiy said “the attack on Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico is appalling. We strongly condemn this act of violence against our neighboring partner state’s head of government.”
The attack on Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico is appalling.
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) May 15, 2024
We strongly condemn this act of violence against our neighboring partner state's head of government. Every effort should be made to ensure that violence does not become the norm in any country, form, or sphere.…
Video shows a suspect being detained after shots were fired at Fico.
Pellegrini: 'Horrified by where the hatred towards another political opinion can lead'
Peter Pellegrini, Slovakia’s president-elect and an ally of Robert Fico, has said that “an assassination attempt on the Prime Minister is a threat to everything that has adorned Slovak democracy so far.”
“I am horrified by where the hatred towards another political opinion can lead. We don’t have to agree on everything, but there are plenty of ways to express our disagreement democratically and legally,” he added.
An assassination attempt on the Prime Minister is a threat to everything that has adorned Slovak democracy so far.
— Peter Pellegrini (@PellegriniP_) May 15, 2024
With horror, I received the information that Prime Minister Robert Fico became the target of an assassination attempt after a government meeting in Handlova, and…
Ľuboš Blaha, the deputy speaker of parliament, has blamed the media and progressives for today’s incident, Aktuality reports.
Slovakia's prime minister in life-threatening condition: office
Robert Fico is in a life-threatening condition, the Slovak government office said in an emailed statement, Reuters reported.
More EU leaders are expressing their shock.
Die Nachricht vom feigen Attentat auf den slowakischen Ministerpräsidenten Fico erschüttert mich sehr. Gewalt darf keinen Platz haben in der europäischen Politik. In diesen Stunden sind meine Gedanken bei Robert Fico, den Angehörigen und den Bürgerinnen und Bürgern der Slowakei.
— Bundeskanzler Olaf Scholz (@Bundeskanzler) May 15, 2024
Shocked by the news from Slovakia about the shooting of my colleague Robert Fico. I condemn any act of violence against our democracies. My thoughts are with him and his family.
— Petteri Orpo (@PetteriOrpo) May 15, 2024
Deeply shocked by the assasination attempt of Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico.
— Kaja Kallas (@kajakallas) May 15, 2024
An attack against an elected leader is also an attack against the very idea of democracy.
I wish him a full and speedy recovery. My thoughts are with his family and loved ones.
Updated
Fico was conscious upon arrival at hospital
Fico was conscious when he was taken to a hospital in the town of Handlova and was treated for bullet wounds, a hospital spokesperson told Reuters.
He was then transported to a higher-level facility.
Fico was transported to a hospital in Banská Bystrica, because it would have taken too long to get to Bratislava, according to a post on his Facebook account.
Fico in surgery
An official from Fico’s Smer party confirmed to the Guardian that the prime minister was shot in the abdomen and is now in surgery.
“Nothing can ever justify violence or such attacks,” wrote the European Council president, Charles Michel.
I am shocked at the news of the attack on Slovakian PM Fico after a meeting of the Slovak Cabinet in Handlova.
— Charles Michel (@CharlesMichel) May 15, 2024
Nothing can ever justify violence or such attacks.
My thoughts are with the Prime Minister and his family.
'Shocked by the heinous attack against my friend': Orbán reacts to Fico shooting
Viktor Orbán, a close ally of Robert Fico, has reacted to the shooting incident, wishing Slovakia’s prime minister a quick recovery.
I was deeply shocked by the heinous attack against my friend, Prime Minister Robert Fico. We pray for his health and quick recovery! God bless him and his country!
— Orbán Viktor (@PM_ViktorOrban) May 15, 2024
Commission president condemns attack
“I strongly condemn the vile attack on Prime Minister Robert Fico,” Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission president, has said.
“ Such acts of violence have no place in our society and undermine democracy, our most precious common good. My thoughts are with PM Fico and his family.”
I strongly condemn the vile attack on Prime Minister Robert Fico.
— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) May 15, 2024
Such acts of violence have no place in our society and undermine democracy, our most precious common good.
My thoughts are with PM Fico and his family.
'Utterly shocked': Slovakia's president condemns attack on prime minister
Utterly shocked by today's brutal attack on #Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico, which I condemn in strongest possible terms.
— Zuzana Čaputová (@ZuzanaCaputova) May 15, 2024
I wish him lot of strength in this critical moment and early recovery. My thoughts are also with his family and close ones.
Attacker arrested: reports
An individual has been arrest in connection with the attack on Slovakia’s prime minister, Robert Fico.
A video circulating online shows a chaotic scene.
Updated
Petr Fiala, the Czech prime minister, said the news about the shooting is “shocking.”
He wished Robert Fico a speedy recovery and said “we must not tolerate violence, it must have no place in society.”
Zpráva o postřelení slovenského premiéra Roberta Fica je šokující. Přeji panu premiérovi, ať je co nejdříve v pořádku. Násilí nesmíme tolerovat, nesmí mít ve společnosti místo.
— Petr Fiala (@P_Fiala) May 15, 2024
Four shots were fired after a government meeting, and one hit Robert Fico, Slovakia’s prime minister, in the abdomen, Reuters reported citing broadcaster TA3.
“I am shocked and appalled by the shooting of Prime Minister Robert Fico in Handlova,” the opposition Progressive Slovakia’s Michal Šimečka said.
“We unequivocally and strongly condemn any violence,” he added.
Som šokovaný a zhrozený streľbou na premiéra Roberta Fica v Handlovej. Akékoľvek násilie jednoznačne a ostro odsudzujeme. Veríme, že premiér Fico bude v poriadku a že tento hrozný čin bude čo najskôr objasnený.
— Michal Šimečka (@MSimecka) May 15, 2024
Updated
Slovakia’s opposition has cancelled a rally planned for today.
Aktuality reports that the shooting was an assassination attempt.
The news outlet writes that the shooting took place when the prime minister, Robert Fico, came to shake hands with a small crowd of people.
Updated
Slovakia president condemns 'brutal' attack on prime minister Robert Fico
Zuzana Čaputová, Slovakia’s president, has condemned the ‘brutal’ attack on the prime minister, Robert Fico, and said she is wishing him recovery, Reuters reported.
Updated
Denník N writes that one of its reporters did not see the incident itself but heard several shots and then saw the prime minister being lifted from the ground by security guards and put into a car.
Slovakia's prime minister wounded in shooting: reports
The prime minister of Slovakia, Robert Fico, has been taken to hospital following a shooting incident, local media reported.
A decision by the EU to start accession talks is likely to be indefinitely postponed if the foreign agents law comes into force, three EU officials told the Financial Times.
“We have been very clear . . . this is a showstopper,” said a person briefed on the discussions between Georgian and EU officials.
Updated
Lithuania’s foreign minister, Gabrielius Landsbergis, stressed that the group of visiting ministers “expressed extremely strong views” rather than just some concerns.
In response to confusion about the meeting with the Chair of the Parliament of Georgia @shpapuashvili, I feel the need to clarify that we did not agree that Georgia was right to ignore European advice and values, and we expressed extremely strong views, not "some concerns". pic.twitter.com/keuj60Xsxx
— Gabrielius Landsbergis🇱🇹 (@GLandsbergis) May 15, 2024
Here’s a map of events in Tbilisi.
Belgium “strongly regrets” the adoption of Georgia’s foreign influence law, the country’s foreign minister has said.
Belgium strongly regrets the adoption by the Georgian Parliament of the law on ‘foreign influence’, which distances the country from European values.
— Hadja Lahbib (@hadjalahbib) May 15, 2024
Statement 🇧🇪⬇️ pic.twitter.com/f5qFAmih4I
It appears that Olivér Várhelyi’s name has been removed from the European Commission statement on Georgia.
Várhelyi, a former Hungarian ambassador, serves as European commissioner for neighbourhood and enlargement. He was nominated for the post by the Hungarian prime minister, Viktor Orbán.
Orbán recently met in Budapest with Georgia’s prime minister, Irakli Kobakhidze.
Hungary, backed by Slovakia, has blocked a statement from the EU’s 27 member states condemning Georgia’s foreign agents law.
The updated statement’s title reads: “Statement by High Representative Josep Borrell with the European Commission on the adoption of the ‘transparency of foreign influence’ law in Georgia.”
Updated
Here’s footage of recent protests in Georgia.
Salome Zourabichvili, Georgia’s president, said she spoke with Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskiy.
Spoke with President @ZelenskyyUa
— Salome Zourabichvili (@Zourabichvili_S) May 15, 2024
I thanked the President for his solidarity and unwavering support for the Georgian people.
Our joint future lies in Europe!
🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺
'We urge the Georgian authorities to withdraw the law,' Borrell and Várhelyi say
After a delay, the EU’s foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, and the neighborhood commissioner, Olivér Várhelyi, issued a statement on Georgia.
“The EU stands with the Georgian people and their choice in favour of democracy and of Georgia’s European future. The intimidation, threats and physical assaults on civil society representatives, political leaders and journalists, as well as their families is unacceptable,” they said.
“The European Council granted Georgia the status of a candidate country on the understanding that the relevant 9 steps set out in the Commission recommendation of 8 November 2023 are taken. These steps require human rights to be protected and civil society as well as media to be able to operate freely. They also refer to the need for depolarisation and the fight against disinformation,” they added.
Borrell and Várhelyi also noted that “the EU has clearly and repeatedly stated that the spirit and content of the law are not in line with EU core norms and values.”
They added:
The adoption of this law negatively impacts Georgia’s progress on the EU path. The choice on the way forward is in Georgia’s hands. We urge the Georgian authorities to withdraw the law, uphold their commitment to the EU path and advance the necessary reforms detailed in the 9 steps.
'Very disappointed': Council of Europe says concerns ignored
The Council of Europe’s secretary general, Marija Pejčinović Burić, said today that “the adoption at third reading of the draft law ‘on transparency of foreign influence’ by the Parliament of Georgia, without waiting for the opinion of the Venice Commission, is very disappointing and does not reflect the spirit of constructive dialogue.”
“Regrettably, international partners’ concerns regarding the draft law’s incompatibility with European democratic and human rights standards were ignored, while the lack of genuine parliamentary deliberations is not in accordance with an inclusive democratic process,” she said.
Georgia has been warned by the US not to become an adversary of the west by falling back in line with Moscow, as its parliament defied mass street protests to pass a “Kremlin-inspired” law.
Washington’s assistant secretary of state, Jim O’Brien, spoke of his fears that the passing by Georgia’s parliament of a “foreign agents” bill on Tuesday could be yet another “turning point” in the former Soviet state’s troubled history.
In comments that appeared to signal a conviction in the US that the Georgian government was once again aligning with Russia, O’Brien suggested funding could soon be pulled.
Billions of dollars had been spent by the US on rebuilding Georgia after the fall of the Soviet Union and hundreds of millions more were planned for the country’s economy and military, he said.
“All that has to be under review if we are now regarded as an adversary and not a partner,” O’Brien told reporters at a press conference in Tbilisi.
Updated
Nato says Georgian law 'step in the wrong direction'
Nato’s spokesperson said today that “the Georgian government’s decision to pass legislation on so-called “foreign agents” is a step in the wrong direction and takes Georgia further away from European and Euro-Atlantic integration.”
“We urge Georgia to change course and to respect the right to peaceful protest,” she added.
The Georgian government’s decision to pass legislation on so-called “foreign agents” is a step in the wrong direction and takes Georgia 🇬🇪 further away from European and Euro-Atlantic integration. We urge #Georgia to change course and to respect the right to peaceful protest.
— NATO Spokesperson Farah Dakhlallah (@NATOpress) May 15, 2024
Georgia’s ombudsman said that representatives of the public defender visited 16 people detained overnight.
Representatives of the Public Defender visited three detention centers in Tbilisi throughout the night and met with 16 persons detained under administrative rules during the May 15 rally.https://t.co/gnTd288vvo pic.twitter.com/Uh7cXVA8Eb
— Ombudsman of Georgia (@Ombudsman_Geo) May 15, 2024
Lithuanian minister warns Georgia's government of 'risks' of continuing on 'dangerous course'
“We came to Georgia as your closest friends, friends who care about Georgia and its people, who care about Georgia’s European future,” Lithuania’s foreign minister, Gabrielius Landsbergis, said in Tbilisi.
Speaking alongside ministers from Estonia, Latvia and Iceland, as well as Georgia’s president, Landsbergis spoke of “completely unacceptable use of force against the protesters” as well as “orchestrated intimidation campaign against non-governmental organisations and activists” and “remarkable resilience” shown by Georgians.
He added:
The first objective of us coming here thus is to express our support and solidarity with everyone who fights for Georgia’s democratic and European choice, for Georgia’s European future. This future belongs to Georgian people, and it should not be captured by anyone.
Our second objective is to pass a very clear message to the representatives of the ruling party, both in the parliament and in the government, of the risks and severe consequences Georgia will be facing if they continue on this very dangerous course.
'How to save Georgia': president holds talks with European ministers
Georgia’s president, Salome Zourabichvili, a critic of the government, spoke today alongside visiting foreign ministers from Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Iceland, who travelled to Tbilisi to show support for Georgians calling for a pro-European, democratic future for their country.
“This society indeed stands on the values which are European values: democracy, freedom,” Zourabichvili said, stressing that Georgia has always fought for independence and “will never go back to the Russian hands.”
“On the agenda today is the following issue: how to save Georgia,” she added.
Joint Statements 🇬🇪🇱🇻🇱🇹🇪🇪🇮🇸
— Salome Zourabichvili (@Zourabichvili_S) May 15, 2024
https://t.co/5770Edewmh
Updated
European politicians show solidarity in Tbilisi
Amid ongoing protests and a government crackdown, a group of senior European politicians are visiting Georgia to express their support for demonstrators.
Michael Roth, chair of the Bundestag’s foreign affairs committee, was among those attending a protest in Tbilisi last night. He described it as “one of the most moving moments of my political life.”
One of the most moving moments of my political life.
— Michael Roth - official 🇪🇺🇺🇦🇮🇱🇬🇪 (@MiRo_SPD) May 14, 2024
Tonight we are all Georgians!
🇬🇪🇪🇺🫶🙏🏾 https://t.co/O1Rv8JPlv9
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