Slovak court begins trial over assassination attempt on PM Fico

On July 8, a Slovak court is set to begin proceedings in the case of the man who attempted to assassinate Prime Minister Robert Fico in May last year, leaving him seriously wounded.

Juraj Cintula, a 72-year-old resident of Levice, has been charged with a particularly serious crime — terrorism — which carries a possible life sentence. The case is being heard by the Specialised Criminal Court, Caliber.Az reports, citing a Slovak news outlet.

On 15 May last year, following a government meeting in the town of Handlová, Cintula shot at Robert Fico five times from a distance of 1.2 metres.

Four bullets struck the Prime Minister, inflicting severe injuries that required multiple surgeries.

The Prosecutor General’s Office filed formal charges against Cintula in March this year following a ten-month investigation.

By Vugar Khalilov