A court document released on Thursday revealed that the man arrested for shooting Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico stated that his intention was to "injure him, not to kill him," as he opposes the government's policies. He used a gun he had owned for more than 30 years. The 9-page document outlines the reasons that led the court to order the detention of the 71-year-old suspect, based on his interrogation by the authorities investigating the case.
This is the first official statement published from the suspect, coming more than a week after the shooting incident, following which Fico has been fighting for his life and requires abdominal surgery. Although his health has improved, he remains hospitalized. Media sources reported that the suspect, a former security guard at a shopping center, claimed that no one knew about his plan.
According to the document issued by the specialized criminal court, the suspect expressed remorse for his actions and is willing to apologize to Fico. The suspect shot Fico four times from close range on May 15, in a square in the town of Handlová, where the government was holding a meeting. The court order stated that the suspect "decided to act" because he disagrees with the government's policy of "abolishing the office of the special prosecutor," in addition to opposing the persecution of workers in culture and media, with his main demand being military aid for Ukraine.
The suspect's lawyer stated that she has withdrawn from the case, and it remains unclear if he has appointed a new lawyer. The assassination attempt on a European political leader highlights the deep political divisions in the central European nation, marking the first major assassination attempt on a European political leader in over 20 years. The court document indicated that the suspect mentioned he did not intend to kill Fico but "wanted to injure him and harm his health." The document further revealed that he had never been treated in a psychiatric ward and had not undergone any psychological evaluation.
