Robert Fico: “Today I’m celebrating my second birthday 🍀 Remember: what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. Have a nice day.”
On May 15, 2024, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico was the victim of an attempted assassination, where he was shot multiple times at close range.
The shooting occurred in the town of Handlová, Slovakia, as Fico was greeting supporters outside a community center. A gunman fired five shots, hitting Fico in the stomach and arm.
Fico was airlifted to a hospital in Banská Bystrica in critical, life-threatening condition and underwent several hours of emergency surgery. He was stabilized but remained in serious condition, requiring further surgery to remove dead tissue.
The suspect was identified as 71-year-old Juraj Cintula, who was arrested immediately at the scene. During interrogation, he stated he acted because he disagreed with the policies of Fico’s government, specifically the opposition to military aid for Ukraine.
The Prime Minister survived the attack and was discharged from the hospital to home care in late May 2024. On October 21, 2025, a specialized criminal court sentenced the attacker to 21 years in prison for a terrorist attack.