00:50During a press conference in Banska Bystrica on Saturday, Slovak Defence Minister Robert Kalinak told journalists that Prime Minister Robert Fico remembers 'everything absolutely' as he recovers after being shot multiple times in an apparent assassination attempt.
“I think the first position is to focus on his health condition and then we will start discussing what happened and what is necessary to do,” Kalinak added.
“We are going to calm down the situation and discuss it between us and look in the mirror at what happened and why it happened. But now, I focus 100 per cent only on his health condition,” he continued.
On Wednesday evening, Fico was airlifted to hospital after being shot multiple times following a government meeting in Handlova. The alleged assailant was named in local media as 71-year-old Slovakian Juraj Cintula.
Initially, he was reported to be in a 'life-threatening condition', while on Thursday morning, government officials and the hospital in Banska Bystrica reported that he had 'stabilised' but the situation remained 'serious'.
On Wednesday, Slovak Minister of Interior Matej Sutaj Estok warned that the country was teetering on the brink of civil unrest and urged an immediate halt to 'hateful comments' on social media networks, citing early indications of a 'clear political motivation' behind the recent events.
The Fico government has proposed new laws concerning public broadcasting, NGOs, and corruption, sparking protests. Fico himself argued that the broadcasting reforms were necessary to safeguard 'the public's access to unbiased information'.
Fico, aged 59, was elected in September 2023 for his fourth term as PM. He campaigned on a platform advocating an end to military aid for Ukraine, which put him at odds with Western leaders. He has opposed EU sanctions on Russia and the provision of arms to Kiev, advocating instead for the US and other parties to use their influence to negotiate a peace agreement.
'He remembers everything absolutely and clearly' - Slovakian Defence Minister shares positive update on Fico after surgery following assassination attempt *EXCLUSIVE*
During a press conference in Banska Bystrica on Saturday, Slovak Defence Minister Robert Kalinak told journalists that Prime Minister Robert Fico remembers 'everything absolutely' as he recovers after being shot multiple times in an apparent assassination attempt.
“I think the first position is to focus on his health condition and then we will start discussing what happened and what is necessary to do,” Kalinak added.
“We are going to calm down the situation and discuss it between us and look in the mirror at what happened and why it happened. But now, I focus 100 per cent only on his health condition,” he continued.
On Wednesday evening, Fico was airlifted to hospital after being shot multiple times following a government meeting in Handlova. The alleged assailant was named in local media as 71-year-old Slovakian Juraj Cintula.
Initially, he was reported to be in a 'life-threatening condition', while on Thursday morning, government officials and the hospital in Banska Bystrica reported that he had 'stabilised' but the situation remained 'serious'.
On Wednesday, Slovak Minister of Interior Matej Sutaj Estok warned that the country was teetering on the brink of civil unrest and urged an immediate halt to 'hateful comments' on social media networks, citing early indications of a 'clear political motivation' behind the recent events.
The Fico government has proposed new laws concerning public broadcasting, NGOs, and corruption, sparking protests. Fico himself argued that the broadcasting reforms were necessary to safeguard 'the public's access to unbiased information'.
Fico, aged 59, was elected in September 2023 for his fourth term as PM. He campaigned on a platform advocating an end to military aid for Ukraine, which put him at odds with Western leaders. He has opposed EU sanctions on Russia and the provision of arms to Kiev, advocating instead for the US and other parties to use their influence to negotiate a peace agreement.
During a press conference in Banska Bystrica on Saturday, Slovak Defence Minister Robert Kalinak told journalists that Prime Minister Robert Fico remembers 'everything absolutely' as he recovers after being shot multiple times in an apparent assassination attempt.
“I think the first position is to focus on his health condition and then we will start discussing what happened and what is necessary to do,” Kalinak added.
“We are going to calm down the situation and discuss it between us and look in the mirror at what happened and why it happened. But now, I focus 100 per cent only on his health condition,” he continued.
On Wednesday evening, Fico was airlifted to hospital after being shot multiple times following a government meeting in Handlova. The alleged assailant was named in local media as 71-year-old Slovakian Juraj Cintula.
Initially, he was reported to be in a 'life-threatening condition', while on Thursday morning, government officials and the hospital in Banska Bystrica reported that he had 'stabilised' but the situation remained 'serious'.
On Wednesday, Slovak Minister of Interior Matej Sutaj Estok warned that the country was teetering on the brink of civil unrest and urged an immediate halt to 'hateful comments' on social media networks, citing early indications of a 'clear political motivation' behind the recent events.
The Fico government has proposed new laws concerning public broadcasting, NGOs, and corruption, sparking protests. Fico himself argued that the broadcasting reforms were necessary to safeguard 'the public's access to unbiased information'.
Fico, aged 59, was elected in September 2023 for his fourth term as PM. He campaigned on a platform advocating an end to military aid for Ukraine, which put him at odds with Western leaders. He has opposed EU sanctions on Russia and the provision of arms to Kiev, advocating instead for the US and other parties to use their influence to negotiate a peace agreement.