Fico appears in public for first time since assassination attempt
Prime Minister of Slovakia Robert Fico (photo: Getty Images)
Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico appeared in public for the first time on Friday since sustaining serious injuries in an assassination attempt. He criticized his liberal political opponents and praised his Hungarian counterpart Viktor Orbán for his trips to Kyiv and Moscow, reports AP.
Fico took the stage at an evening gathering commemorating the 1161st anniversary of the arrival of Saints Cyril and Methodius, a national holiday in Slovakia.
People gave him a standing ovation as he arrived at Devin Castle in Bratislava.
In his address from the stage, Fico, who supports Russia in its war against Ukraine, criticized what he called liberal and progressive ideologies, and praised Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán for his recent trips to Kyiv and Moscow.
Assassination
On May 15, Fico was injured when Slovak writer Juraj Cintula attacked him, firing five shots from a firearm. The Prime Minister was hospitalized and underwent surgery.
During his court hearing, Cintula explained his actions by disagreeing with Fico's policies, particularly regarding the persecution of cultural workers and the media.
According to media reports, Cintula's motives also allegedly included Bratislava's refusal to assist Ukraine in its war with Russia.
Initial recovery predictions for the Prime Minister were grim. However, by May 31, he was discharged from the hospital in Banská Bystrica and returned home to Bratislava for recovery.
Orbán's trips
On July 2, for the first time in 10 years, Orbán visited Kyiv. He met with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, proposing that Ukraine cease defending itself from Russian forces and engage in negotiations with President Vladimir Putin. The President's Office rejected his proposal, noting that the Hungarian Prime Minister is not the first to suggest such strange things.
On July 5, Orbán visited Moscow for a meeting with Putin.
For more details on these visits, read the article by RBC-Ukraine.
