From Biden to Putin: World leaders condemn the gun assault on the prime minister of Slovakia and wish him a swift recovery

May 16, Bratislava, Slovakia: A global outcry over the gunshot incident targeting Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico was met with messages wishing him a swift recovery. Fico is still receiving treatment for what is described as a “severely serious” illness.

Four-time Slovakian prime minister Robert Fico was wounded in a gunshot incident on Wednesday (local time) in Handlova, according to The Slovak Spectator, the local newspaper.

In the village of Banska Bystrica, the gravely injured prime minister is currently having surgery. The neighborhood was evacuated and the suspected shooter was taken into custody immediately.

The incident has been denounced by the US. Both Secretary of State Antony Blinken and President Joe Biden hoped for PM Fico’s quick recovery.

“The news that Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico was attacked worries me. Jill and I are wishing him a speedy recovery and are thinking of his family as well as the people of Slovakia. We denounce this heinous act of aggression. In a statement, President Biden said, “Our embassy is prepared to offer assistance and is in close communication with the Slovakian government.”

“The killing of Slovak Prime Minister Fico is denounced by the United States. We wish him a speedy recovery and send our condolences to his family, the Slovak nation, and him,” Blinken said on X.

“Shocked” to learn about the tragedy, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said.

Sunak posted on the social networking site X, saying, “I’m shocked to hear this terrible news. We are all thinking about Prime Minister Fico and his family.

The killing of the Slovak PM has been denounced by Russian President Vladimir Putin, who called it a “monstrous crime.”

“This heinous act cannot have any justification. Robert Fico is a brave and principled guy, as far as I know. It is my sincere hope that these attributes will enable him to weather this trying time,” said Putin. Fico was wished “a speedy and full recovery” by the Russian leader.

Interestingly, Fico was seen as a Kremlin ally. According to CNN, in the past, he has accused “Ukrainian Nazis and fascists” of inciting Vladimir Putin to begin the invasion.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the president of Ukraine, too, denounced the violent assault against the head of state of Slovakia.

“It is disgusting that Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico is being attacked. Zelenskyy commented on X, “We strongly condemn this act of aggression against the head of government of our neighboring partner state.

Emmanuel Macron, the president of France, voiced his strong condemnation of the assault and his support.

“Shocked by the bullets that struck Robert Fico, the prime minister of Slovakia,. I vehemently denounce this assault. Macron said, “My sympathies and best wishes are with him, his family, and the Slovak people.

Olaf Scholz, the chancellor of Germany, called this a “cowardly attack” and said that violence had no place in European politics.

“The news of the terrible assault on Slovakian Prime Minister Fico shocks me to my core. Politics in Europe must not include violence. “My thoughts are with Robert Fico, his family, and the people of Slovakia during these hours,” Scholz said.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the president of Turkey, expressed his condolences and “strongly condemned” the incident.

“I vehemently denounce the horrific attempt on the life of Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico, and I send my best wishes for a swift recovery to Mr. Fico, who sustained injuries in the incident. On behalf of my nation and country, I extend my warmest greetings to the people and administration of Slovakia,” Erdogan said on X.

Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, denounced the “vile attack” and said that such violent actions had no place in society.

“The despicable assault on Prime Minister Robert Fico is severely condemned by me. Such violent crimes are unacceptable in our society and a threat to democracy, the most valuable common good. She said, “My sympathies are with PM Fico and his family.

The “cowardly attack” stunned Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who expressed her “deep shock.”.

“I was shocked to hear of the vicious assault on Robert Fico, the prime minister of Slovakia. I am sending my warmest regards to him, his family, and the Slovak people. Additionally, I would want to say on behalf of the Italian Government how strongly I condemn any acts of violence and attacks on the fundamental values of democracy and freedom,” she said on X.

Jens Stoltenberg, the secretary general of NATO, also wished PM Fico a quick recovery.

“Saddened and horrified by Prime Minister Robert Fico’s shooting incident,. I’m hoping for a quick recovery for him. On X, Stoltenberg said, “My thoughts are with Robert Fico, his loved ones, and the people of Slovakia.”

Nothing can excuse violence, according to Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, who also said that Spain as a country supports the PM of Slovakia.

“I am appalled and horrified by the assault on the prime minister of Slovakia. During this very trying period, Spain supports Robert Fico, his family, and the Slovak people. Violence is never justified,” Sanchez said on X.

Viktor Orban, the prime minister of Hungary, wished Fico a speedy recovery. “I was horrified by the horrible assault on Prime Minister Robert Fico, who is one of my friends. We hope for his well-being and a speedy recovery! May God reward him and his nation.”

According to CNN, Slovak Defense Minister Robert Kalinak said that PM Fico is “still fighting for his life” in the meantime.

“The three and a half hours of operation are now complete. His health is quite complicated,” Kalinak said. The only thing on our minds is Robert Fico’s health. And our hope is that he will be resilient enough to survive.”

According to Matus Sutaj Estok, the interior minister of Slovakia, PM Fico’s murder attempt was “politically motivated,” and the information was derived from “initial interviews with the suspect.”

“The offender fired five times. The prime minister remains on the operation table in a critical state. At a press conference, Estok said, “We will examine this as thoroughly as possible.

Zuzana Caputova, the president of Slovakia, said during a press conference that the assault on the prime minister of Slovakia was “also an attack on democracy.”

The attempted murder of Prime Minister Robert Fico, according to opposition lawmaker Maria Kolikova, is “an attack on the internal security” of Slovakia.

The unidentified 71-year-old gunman was a member of the Slovak Society of Writers, the author of three poetry books, and a former mall security guard, according to Al Jazeera, which cited local Slovak news sources.

According to the attacker’s son, his father legally had a firearm license. According to the shooter’s son, “I have absolutely no idea what my father intended, what he planned, or what happened,” as reported by news source Aktuality.sk.

Fico was prime minister twice before, from 2012 to 2018 and from 2006 to 2010. According to Al Jazeera, he became the longest-serving head of state in Slovakian history in 2023 after winning a third term. Slovakia is a member of the European Union and NATO.