06:31Slovak Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok stated the authorities believed the suspension of aid to Ukraine was among the motivations for the shooting of Prime Minister Robert Fico, during a press briefing in Bratislava on Thursday.
"I want to confirm here that the Slovak Republic is currently working with only one version of the attack […] that it was a politically motivated act yesterday," he stated, before pointing the finger of blame at the media.
"The suspect himself said the information he had with which he worked, how intensively he devoted himself to political events, the information you (the media) presented recently, how you presented it, I think that each of you has a mirror," he said.
Fico was airlifted to hospital in Banska Bystrica after being shot multiple times following a government meeting in Handlova, where he remains in a serious but 'stable condition'. The alleged assailant, named in local media as 71-year-old Slovakian Juraj Cintula, was detained at the scene.
He added that the suspect blamed the abolition of the special prosecutor's office, the dismissal of the chairman of the judicial council, the closure of the public broadcaster as well as the suspension of military aid to Ukraine as reasons for the attack.
He added that the suspect 'is not a member of any radicalised political group, neither right-wing nor left-wing' but a 'a lone wolf'.
Meanwhile Deputy PM and Defence Minister Robert Kalinak said that Fico's 'credo in life has always been to accept other opinions and put forward arguments'. He also gave an update on the PM's condition.
"The members of the medical team […] Banská Bystrica perform extreme feats, to stabilsze his condition and progress to a positive prognosis. Unfortunately, I can't yet say that we are winning or that the prognosis is positive, because the extent of the injuries caused by the four gunshot wounds is so extensive, that the body's response will still be very challenging," he said.
"Let us try to avoid confrontational discussions at the outset," he added. "Let us try to step together on the path of tolerance and get back to it, which has always been the basis of Robert Fico's politics."
The Fico government has introduced legislation to reform public broadcasting, NGOs and corruption prosecutions, which have led to protests about the perceived tightening of government control. Fico himself said that the broadcasting overhaul would protect 'the public's right to objective information'.
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.
'Currently only one version - politically motivated' - Interior minister names suspension of Ukraine aid among reasons for Fico shooting
Slovak Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok stated the authorities believed the suspension of aid to Ukraine was among the motivations for the shooting of Prime Minister Robert Fico, during a press briefing in Bratislava on Thursday.
"I want to confirm here that the Slovak Republic is currently working with only one version of the attack […] that it was a politically motivated act yesterday," he stated, before pointing the finger of blame at the media.
"The suspect himself said the information he had with which he worked, how intensively he devoted himself to political events, the information you (the media) presented recently, how you presented it, I think that each of you has a mirror," he said.
Fico was airlifted to hospital in Banska Bystrica after being shot multiple times following a government meeting in Handlova, where he remains in a serious but 'stable condition'. The alleged assailant, named in local media as 71-year-old Slovakian Juraj Cintula, was detained at the scene.
He added that the suspect blamed the abolition of the special prosecutor's office, the dismissal of the chairman of the judicial council, the closure of the public broadcaster as well as the suspension of military aid to Ukraine as reasons for the attack.
He added that the suspect 'is not a member of any radicalised political group, neither right-wing nor left-wing' but a 'a lone wolf'.
Meanwhile Deputy PM and Defence Minister Robert Kalinak said that Fico's 'credo in life has always been to accept other opinions and put forward arguments'. He also gave an update on the PM's condition.
"The members of the medical team […] Banská Bystrica perform extreme feats, to stabilsze his condition and progress to a positive prognosis. Unfortunately, I can't yet say that we are winning or that the prognosis is positive, because the extent of the injuries caused by the four gunshot wounds is so extensive, that the body's response will still be very challenging," he said.
"Let us try to avoid confrontational discussions at the outset," he added. "Let us try to step together on the path of tolerance and get back to it, which has always been the basis of Robert Fico's politics."
The Fico government has introduced legislation to reform public broadcasting, NGOs and corruption prosecutions, which have led to protests about the perceived tightening of government control. Fico himself said that the broadcasting overhaul would protect 'the public's right to objective information'.
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.
Slovak Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok stated the authorities believed the suspension of aid to Ukraine was among the motivations for the shooting of Prime Minister Robert Fico, during a press briefing in Bratislava on Thursday.
"I want to confirm here that the Slovak Republic is currently working with only one version of the attack […] that it was a politically motivated act yesterday," he stated, before pointing the finger of blame at the media.
"The suspect himself said the information he had with which he worked, how intensively he devoted himself to political events, the information you (the media) presented recently, how you presented it, I think that each of you has a mirror," he said.
Fico was airlifted to hospital in Banska Bystrica after being shot multiple times following a government meeting in Handlova, where he remains in a serious but 'stable condition'. The alleged assailant, named in local media as 71-year-old Slovakian Juraj Cintula, was detained at the scene.
He added that the suspect blamed the abolition of the special prosecutor's office, the dismissal of the chairman of the judicial council, the closure of the public broadcaster as well as the suspension of military aid to Ukraine as reasons for the attack.
He added that the suspect 'is not a member of any radicalised political group, neither right-wing nor left-wing' but a 'a lone wolf'.
Meanwhile Deputy PM and Defence Minister Robert Kalinak said that Fico's 'credo in life has always been to accept other opinions and put forward arguments'. He also gave an update on the PM's condition.
"The members of the medical team […] Banská Bystrica perform extreme feats, to stabilsze his condition and progress to a positive prognosis. Unfortunately, I can't yet say that we are winning or that the prognosis is positive, because the extent of the injuries caused by the four gunshot wounds is so extensive, that the body's response will still be very challenging," he said.
"Let us try to avoid confrontational discussions at the outset," he added. "Let us try to step together on the path of tolerance and get back to it, which has always been the basis of Robert Fico's politics."
The Fico government has introduced legislation to reform public broadcasting, NGOs and corruption prosecutions, which have led to protests about the perceived tightening of government control. Fico himself said that the broadcasting overhaul would protect 'the public's right to objective information'.
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.