Perpetrator of Assassination Attempt on Slovak PM Fico Refuses to Testify
Juraj Cintula. X/ @IuliiaMendel
July 8, 2025 Hour: 1:07 pm
In 2024, Juraj Cintula, a 72-year-old retired man, fired five shots at Fico, causing serious injuries to his abdomen and hip.
On Tuesday, Juraj Cintula, the man who shot Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico in 2024, refused to testify as his trial began at the Specialized Criminal Court in Banska Bystrica.
RELATED:
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico Injured in Attack
Though he declined to speak, Cintula expressed disagreement with the reclassification of the charges against him. What was initially classified as premeditated attempted murder of a protected person has now been elevated to terrorism.
Prior to the trial’s opening, the defense unsuccessfully attempted to reach a plea deal with prosecutors, proposing a 12-year prison sentence. However, the prosecution maintained that no such agreement was possible due to the severity of the charges.
Cintula, a 72-year-old retired man, fired five shots at Fico, causing serious injuries to the prime minister’s abdomen and hip, including damage to the large intestine and soft tissue of the bladder.
The attack took place May 15, 2024, as Fico was leaving a Cabinet meeting in the town of Handlova. He was approaching a group of citizens gathered in front of the House of Culture when the shooter opened fire.
The text reads, “This Tuesday begins the trial of Juraj Cintula, a 72-year-old leftist who shot Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico in May 2024. The man, who claims to have no regrets, faces life in prison.”
During the trial, the court heard a recording of Fico’s statement, along with testimony from journalists who filmed the incident, additional eyewitnesses, and medical and psychological experts. “Long live free culture, long live democracy,” Cintula shouted upon arriving at the courthouse.
If convicted, he faces a sentence ranging from 25 years to life in prison. The proceedings, held under tight security, are considered among the most significant in the recent history of the Central European country of 5.5 million people. The case file includes more than 6,200 pages spread across 18 volumes. Cintula is being tried alone, as he acted without accomplices.
While Cintula’s role in the attack is not in question, his motivation is expected to become one of the trial’s key issues. He used phrases similar to those voiced by opposition parties during protests held before the shooting, prompting the government to accuse the political opposition of paving the way for the attack by creating a “climate of hate” and fostering polarization.
The opposition, for its part, blames Fico for the country’s political division and criticizes his combative rhetoric. The trial is set to resume Wednesday.
teleSUR/ JF
Source: EFE