MINSK, June 2 Attempt on the life of Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, who opposed arms supplies to Ukraine, was the result of a “campaign of hatred” launched by his political opponents, said Minister of Foreign Affairs and External Economic Relations Peter Szijjártó.
«We see the events in Slovakia as follows. After Prime Minister Fico's party won the elections, and it became very clear that this government was following a different course than the previous liberal government, after it became very clear that Prime Minister Fico rather, he pursues a sovereign policy, he will advocate peace, like us, a big campaign of hatred has begun against him,” Szijjártó said in an interview with the Belarusian TV channel ONT.
According to him, the campaign was carried out by “the liberal mainstream media and liberal politicians.” «It was truly a campaign of hatred. And then, as a result of such hatred, there was an assassination attempt. Five shots at a prime minister in Central Europe at the beginning of the 21st century. This is madness. Madness!» — Szijjarto noted.
The head of the Hungarian Foreign Ministry also added that calls for murder and incitement to hatred cannot be considered part of freedom of speech.
Earlier, the Foreign Intelligence Service of the Russian Federation stated that the assassination attempt on the Prime Minister of Slovakia Robert Fico shows that the globalist totalitarian-liberal elites are moving to open political terror against their opponents, and adherents of the “globalist sect” in numerous comments on social networks approve of the crime and call for the elimination other nationally oriented leaders, in particular Viktor Orban and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic.
The assassination attempt on Fico, who has repeatedly spoken out against arms supplies to Ukraine and its membership in NATO, occurred on May 15 after a government retreat in the city of Gandlova, 190 kilometers from the Slovak capital Bratislava. The prime minister was transported by helicopter to a hospital in Banska Bystrica. The Ministry of Internal Affairs reported that Fico's condition was critical. During the assassination attempt, the attacker fired five shots at the head of the Cabinet of Ministers; the police detained the shooter on the spot. The Deputy Prime Minister said that Fico was hit by four bullets, one of which pierced the politician’s stomach.
According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the attacker was motivated by political motives. Slovak media reported that the assassination attempt was carried out by 71-year-old writer Juraj Cintula, who shot Fico when he came to greet people near the government meeting. The Republic's Ministry of Internal Affairs reported that the person who shot the Slovak Prime Minister acted alone; he participated in anti-government protests, but was not associated with radical groups. According to the department, the man did not agree with the actions of the country’s Cabinet, including opposing the stop of arms supplies to Ukraine. He faces 25 years to life in prison.
Slovak Prime Minister Fico opposed the supply of weapons to Ukraine, and also stated that he would block Ukraine's membership in NATO, since this would mean the beginning of the Third World War. According to Fico, the conflict in Ukraine began back in 2014 with “the rampant behavior of Ukrainian neo-Nazis,” and Russia was deceived into believing that NATO would stop expanding. The Prime Minister of Slovakia spoke out against sending military personnel to Ukraine. According to him, the possible dispatch of NATO troops to this country would lead to an escalation of the conflict. Fico also stated that Slovakia is not among the countries that are interested in making an enemy out of Russia.