The President of Cyprus has responded to the assassination attempt on the Prime Minister of Slovakia

In Slovakia, a assassination attempt on the Prime Minister of the country, Robert Fico, took place the previous day around noon. The President of the Republic of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides, stated that he was "deeply shocked" by the attack on the politician.

"I am deeply shocked by the attempt on the life of the Slovak Prime Minister. My thoughts are with him and his family. My best wishes for a speedy and smooth recovery, dear Robert," wrote the Cypriot leader on the X platform.

The assassination attempt occurred on Wednesday afternoon after a cabinet meeting in the city of Gandlova. Five shots were fired from the crowd as Robert Fico exited after the meeting. The politician was wounded in the abdomen and hand. He was urgently transported by helicopter to a hospital in Banska Bystrica, where he underwent surgery. During the operation, he suffered bleeding, after which he was placed in an induced coma.

The assailant was detained at the scene. He turned out to be a 71-year-old writer, Juraj Cintula. He stated that he committed the assassination attempt due to disagreement with the government's policies.

On Robert Fico's official Facebook page, a message appeared two hours after the assassination attempt stating that his injuries were not life-threatening. According to the latest information, his life is not in danger now.

Words of support for the Slovak Prime Minister and his relatives were expressed by the American leader Joe Biden, President of Russia Vladimir Putin, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, President of the European Council Charles Michel, and other state leaders. They all strongly condemned the attack on the politician.

Last autumn, 59-year-old Robert Fico became the Prime Minister of Slovakia for the fourth time. He first held this position in 2006.