٠٠:٠١:١٥Mandatory Credit: Slovakian President Office
In response to the attack on Prime Minister Robert Fico, Slovakian President Zuzana Caputova condemned the violence and emphasised the dangerous impact of hateful rhetoric in society in a press comment in Bratislava on Wednesday. She characterised the incident as an assault on democracy and stressed that any form of violence is unacceptable.
"I'm shocked. We're all shocked here by the terrible and insidious attack on Prime Minister Robert Fico. Something that I can't quite comprehend yet, or can't bring myself into believing it. An attack on a member of the government is, above all, an attack on a human being and democracy," stated President Caputova.
She urged for an end to hateful rhetoric, highlighting its correlation with hateful actions. "Hateful rhetoric, which we as a society are witnesses to, leads to hateful actions. So I beg you, please stop this," she pleaded.
Acknowledging the swift action taken by the police in apprehending the suspect, Caputova called for restraint in making judgments until more information was provided.
"The police have taken the perpetrator into custody, and if it's possible, they will provide more information about the situation. Until then, please let us not draw the blood of judgment. And let us think of the most important thing as of right now, which is the health of Robert Fico," she emphasised.
The shooting took place outside the House of Culture in Handlova following a government meeting. The country's Interior Ministry reported that it was an 'assassination attempt'. A post on Fico's official social media stated that he 'has been shot multiple times and is currently in a life-threatening condition', while the 'next few hours will decide'.
The alleged assailant, named in local media as 71-year-old Slovakian Juraj Cintula, was detained at the scene, while no details have been released by police about a possible motive.
Handlova lies 150km northeast of the capital Bratislava.
59-year-old Fico was elected in September 2023, marking his fourth period as PM and ran on a campaign to end military support to Ukraine. He has opposed EU sanctions on Russia and the sending of arms to Kiev, saying the US and others should use their influence to bring about a peace deal.
'Hateful rhetoric we witness in society leads to hateful acts' - Outgoing president calls Fico shooting 'attack on democracy'
In response to the attack on Prime Minister Robert Fico, Slovakian President Zuzana Caputova condemned the violence and emphasised the dangerous impact of hateful rhetoric in society in a press comment in Bratislava on Wednesday. She characterised the incident as an assault on democracy and stressed that any form of violence is unacceptable.
"I'm shocked. We're all shocked here by the terrible and insidious attack on Prime Minister Robert Fico. Something that I can't quite comprehend yet, or can't bring myself into believing it. An attack on a member of the government is, above all, an attack on a human being and democracy," stated President Caputova.
She urged for an end to hateful rhetoric, highlighting its correlation with hateful actions. "Hateful rhetoric, which we as a society are witnesses to, leads to hateful actions. So I beg you, please stop this," she pleaded.
Acknowledging the swift action taken by the police in apprehending the suspect, Caputova called for restraint in making judgments until more information was provided.
"The police have taken the perpetrator into custody, and if it's possible, they will provide more information about the situation. Until then, please let us not draw the blood of judgment. And let us think of the most important thing as of right now, which is the health of Robert Fico," she emphasised.
The shooting took place outside the House of Culture in Handlova following a government meeting. The country's Interior Ministry reported that it was an 'assassination attempt'. A post on Fico's official social media stated that he 'has been shot multiple times and is currently in a life-threatening condition', while the 'next few hours will decide'.
The alleged assailant, named in local media as 71-year-old Slovakian Juraj Cintula, was detained at the scene, while no details have been released by police about a possible motive.
Handlova lies 150km northeast of the capital Bratislava.
59-year-old Fico was elected in September 2023, marking his fourth period as PM and ran on a campaign to end military support to Ukraine. He has opposed EU sanctions on Russia and the sending of arms to Kiev, saying the US and others should use their influence to bring about a peace deal.
Mandatory Credit: Slovakian President Office
In response to the attack on Prime Minister Robert Fico, Slovakian President Zuzana Caputova condemned the violence and emphasised the dangerous impact of hateful rhetoric in society in a press comment in Bratislava on Wednesday. She characterised the incident as an assault on democracy and stressed that any form of violence is unacceptable.
"I'm shocked. We're all shocked here by the terrible and insidious attack on Prime Minister Robert Fico. Something that I can't quite comprehend yet, or can't bring myself into believing it. An attack on a member of the government is, above all, an attack on a human being and democracy," stated President Caputova.
She urged for an end to hateful rhetoric, highlighting its correlation with hateful actions. "Hateful rhetoric, which we as a society are witnesses to, leads to hateful actions. So I beg you, please stop this," she pleaded.
Acknowledging the swift action taken by the police in apprehending the suspect, Caputova called for restraint in making judgments until more information was provided.
"The police have taken the perpetrator into custody, and if it's possible, they will provide more information about the situation. Until then, please let us not draw the blood of judgment. And let us think of the most important thing as of right now, which is the health of Robert Fico," she emphasised.
The shooting took place outside the House of Culture in Handlova following a government meeting. The country's Interior Ministry reported that it was an 'assassination attempt'. A post on Fico's official social media stated that he 'has been shot multiple times and is currently in a life-threatening condition', while the 'next few hours will decide'.
The alleged assailant, named in local media as 71-year-old Slovakian Juraj Cintula, was detained at the scene, while no details have been released by police about a possible motive.
Handlova lies 150km northeast of the capital Bratislava.
59-year-old Fico was elected in September 2023, marking his fourth period as PM and ran on a campaign to end military support to Ukraine. He has opposed EU sanctions on Russia and the sending of arms to Kiev, saying the US and others should use their influence to bring about a peace deal.