I forgive the attacker: Slovak PM’s first address since assassination attempt
File photo of Slovak PM Robert Fico.
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has made his first address to the public after he survived an assassination attempt last month. In a video posted on Wednesday (June 5), Prime Minister Ficosaid he forgave the attacker who shot him four times and announced he would be ready to gradually resume his duties starting later this month.
"I feel no hatred towards the stranger who shot me.I forgive him and let him sort out what he did and why he did it in his own head," Fico added.
Fico shot at close range on May 15
PM Fico, 59, wasshot four times at close range on May 15 as he greeted supporters after a government meeting in the central town of Handlova. He washit in the abdomen and was taken to a hospital in Banska Bystrica in serious condition. He immediately underwent a more than five-hour operation and another one two days later.
Last week, the prime minister was released from the hospital and was takento his apartment in Bratislava.
)
'Not sure': Trump pours cold water on Ukraine's Patriot missile dream after Zelensky's claim
)
Brewery offering 'free beer' the day Trump dies has license revoked - 'Will have to pry me out of my taprooms'
)
'We have special forces': Netanyahu warns against any ICC arrest attempt abroad
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
New Friday OTT releases (July 31, 2026): The Vacation Principle, Rao Bahadur, Chum- Watch 6 new movies and TV shows on Netflix, Prime Video and more
)
Lift accident? Maintenance, builders & makers are ALL liable now, rules Supreme Court: 3 major regulations | WION Decodes
)
Kiara Advani reveals why she chose Toxic, says character offered her 'all the meat an actor longs for'
)
British Airways flight comes close to 'nosediving' over London
)
Indian forces used pellet guns on Jul 20? SC hearing, police diary entry, MLC report and injured protesters' claims
)
3.6mn people track 24hr Qantas flight from Melbourne to Toulouse: Pilot shifts, fuel tank and other details
)
WATCH: 'Absolute chaos' at Spain-Morocco border; thousands breach Ceuta, at least 9 killed
)
India avoids higher US tariff, secures lower 10% rate. Here's how
)
'Living Nostradamus' warns of a new war, claims two of his 2026 predictions have come true
)
'There needs to be a declaration of war': Trump wins Senate vote, but Cassidy draws red line on Iran
)
Anthropic reveals India is Claude AI's No. 2 market. But what are Indians actually using the AI for? | WION Decodes
)
'Hamas will disarm': Trump unveils 'historic' 20-point plan to end Gaza war. What's inside it?
)
Karan Johar's The Traitors season 2 contestants: Rhea Chakraborty, Mallika Sherawat and Munawar Faruqui in the first batch
)
Bizarre new material discovered in Hiroshima nuclear bombing debris | Gravitas
)
This Ramayana actor took ZERO fee from Rs 4000 crore film. Guess who?
)
Commonwealth Games 2026 Day 9: India's full schedule, medal events and match timings
)
Russia-Ukraine war: Putin mobilises more troops for Ukraine's war decisive invasion
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
‘Italy will not...’: Meloni threatens Spain’s Schengen access after thousands enter Ceuta from Morocco
)
NEET Protests riddled with misinformation? Delhi Police blocks 480 Pakistan-based handles spreading 'fake news' since Operation Sindoor
)
ED raids uncover ₹600 crore assets in Jharkhand illegal coal mining crackdown
)
Trump to charge foreign students $100,000 for a shot at a US job? Here's why Indian students should be worried
)
Meta India head booked as cyber police crack down on 'obscene' morphed PM Modi videos
)
The Royals enter the Doctor Who universe: King Charles and Queen Camilla beam into Commonwealth Games in TARDIS
)
Trump says Iranian school bombing photos could be AI-generated - 'I don’t think...'
)
23ft python swallows man returning from party in Indonesia; family find body whole inside reptile
)
CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke returns to Maharashtra, receives grand welcome in hometown
)
Hosts India sweep Malaysia for double gold in men’s and women’s Commonwealth Table Tennis finals
)
Spider-Man Brand New Day BO day 1: Tom Holland starrer surpasses No Way Home's India opening
)
Russia-Ukraine War: Zelensky fears 500,000 new Russian troops
)
Delhi Consumer Court fines Indian Railways Rs 25,000 for making RAC passengers share one blanket
)
ICC announces 12 host venues for 2027 ODI World Cup
)
Nearly Rs 29 crore cash, 15 kg gold found at ex-bus driver's house in West Bengal
)
Student denied admission to IIT Kanpur's cybersecurity program hacks websites to prove a point
According to the hospital,Ficounderwent further follow-up examinations, which confirmed the positive development of his health condition, and that he had started rehabilitation.
The attacker
The attacker was identified as71-year-old poet Juraj Cintula. The police detained Cintulaon the spot. He was charged with attempted premeditated murder. This incident was thefirst major assassination attempt on a European political leader in more than 20 years.
In the video posted on Wednesday,Ficocalled his attacker an activist of opposition parties, saying there was no reason to believethe shooterwas a lone lunatic."On May 15, a Slovak opposition activist tried to assassinate me in Handlova because of my political views," he added.
(With inputs from agencies)