A Slovak court on Tuesday found the man who shot and critically injured Prime Minister Robert Fico guilty of terrorism and sentenced him to 21 years in prison.

The Specialized Criminal Court in Banska Bystrica ruled that 72-year-old Juraj Cintula carried out a politically motivated attack against the Slovak leader. In May 2024, Cintula fired five rounds at Fico from close range while the prime minister was greeting supporters in the central town of Handlova.

Fico, 61, was struck four times, sustaining serious wounds to his abdomen, hip, hand, and foot. He underwent weeks of treatment before making his first public appearance in July and returning to the office later that summer.

🇸🇰⚖️ Ativista pró-ucraniano que tentou assassinar premiê eslovaco é condenado a 21 anos de prisão

🔫 O ativista Juraj Cintula, agora de 72 anos, tentou balear o premiê eslovaco @RobertFicoSVK em 15 de maio de 2024.

🏥 O líder da Eslováquia foi hospitalizado em estado grave, mas… pic.twitter.com/TPtNNQU9j3

— Sputnik Brasil (@sputnik_brasil) October 21, 2025

The verdict concluded a trial that began in July and focused on whether Cintula’s act amounted to terrorism or a lesser offense, such as attempted murder or assault. The court determined that because the attack targeted Fico in his official capacity as head of government, it met the legal definition of terrorism.

Reading the decision, Judge Igor Kralik stated, “The court considers proven that the defendant did not attack a citizen but specifically the prime minister.” The 21-year prison term was below the maximum penalty of life imprisonment.

Cintula, appearing in court in a blue shirt and black hoodie, admitted to the shooting but insisted he had not intended to kill Fico, only to injure him. He said his goal was to prevent the prime minister from pursuing what he viewed as harmful policies curbing “freedom and culture.” After the ruling, he told reporters the verdict was “unjust” and pledged to appeal.

Wider context

The incident highlighted deepening political and social rifts in Slovakia. Fico, who has dominated national politics for more than a decade across three nonconsecutive terms since 2006, has blamed the liberal, pro-EU opposition for fostering hatred and division.

He called his attacker a “tool of hatred” and warned that the growing climate of hostility could fuel further violence. “I don’t know who the victim will be, maybe me, maybe someone else, but there will be a victim,” he said.

Fico, who did not attend the proceedings, said he continues to experience health complications from the shooting. He returned to power in 2023 after a populist campaign that ended Slovakia’s military support for Ukraine, sought warmer relations with Moscow, and aimed to reshape both the public broadcaster and the criminal code.

Cintula, a retired miner, stonemason, writer, and activist, told the court that his act was a “scream against fear that is paralysing society.” His defense team argued that not every assault on a political leader should be treated as terrorism and sought a reduced sentence.

After the verdict, Fico’s lawyer, David Lindtner, said the defendant’s intent was unmistakable: “It is evident the defendant was no pensioner but a terrorist" who wanted to set a precedent that "political confrontation should be resolved by violent means".

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