Reuters
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A Slovak court on Tuesday found the man who shot and killed Prime Minister Roberto Fico last year guilty of terrorism charges and sentenced him to 21 years in prison.
In May 2024, as the prime minister was greeting residents in the central Slovak town of Handlova, 72-year-old Juraj Cintula fired five shots at Fico from just over a meter away.
The verdict of the specialized criminal court of the city of Banská Bystrica brings to an end a trial that began in July. The main issue was whether Sintura, who admitted shooting Fico, was guilty of terrorism or less serious murder and assault charges.
Fico, 61, was hit four times and suffered serious injuries to his abdomen, as well as injuries to his lower back, hands and legs. He made his first public appearance in July last year, several months after the attack, and returned to work soon after.
Chintura appeared in court wearing a blue shirt and a black hooded sweatshirt, accompanied by security guards armed with automatic weapons. He said he wanted to hurt, not kill, because he wanted to prevent Slovakia from continuing with policies that undermined its freedom and culture.
During his court appearance on Tuesday, Sintura told reporters he “definitely” intends to appeal the sentence. “It was unfair,” he said.
The shooting exposed deep rifts in Slovak society and hostility between populist Fico and the opposition. Fico, who has ruled for 11 years across three terms since 2006, blames pro-EU opposition parties, mostly liberals, for fomenting the climate of anger that led to the shootings.
Opposition parties accuse Fico of eroding democratic standards, press freedom and covering up corruption.
Judge Igor Kralik cited Sintura’s own reasons for the attack when reading out the justification for the terrorism charge.
“The court considers that it has been proven that the defendant did not attack the people, but specifically the prime minister,” Kralik said.
The sentence was less than the maximum life sentence.
Lawyers for Mr Sintura, a pensioner, former miner, mason, author and public activist, argued that not all attacks on officials amounted to terrorism. He was seeking a reduced sentence for assaulting a public servant.
Fico’s lawyer, David Lintner, said his client was “a terrorist, not a pensioner” and clearly wanted to set a precedent that “political conflicts should be resolved by violent means.”
Fico returned to power in 2023 and ended state military aid to Ukraine, sought to improve relations with Moscow, overhauled public broadcasting and introduced several new criminal laws, changes that critics say undermine democracy.
Chintura said she opposed the prime minister’s policies regarding Ukraine, media and culture, and in court described the attack as a “cry against the terror that is paralyzing society”.
Fico said he has forgiven Cintura, although he continues to have health problems related to the shooting.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
