“This assassination attempt was politically motivated and the suspect made the decision to do it shortly after the presidential election,” Interior Minister Matúš Šutaj Eštok told a news conference outside the hospital in Banská Bystrica, where the prime minister is being treated.
“It is clear this was politically motivated,” Defense Minister Robert Kaliňák said, speaking alongside Eštok.
Kaliňák said Fico “suffered multiple injuries,” but did not provide any details when reporters asked if the prime minister was shot in the stomach.
Slovakian deputy prime minister believes Fico will survive the assassination attempt
Slovakian Deputy Prime Minister Tomáš Taraba said he believes Prime Minister Robert Fico will survive Wednesday’s assassination attempt and is “not in a life-threatening situation at this moment.”
“Fortunately, as far as I know, the operation went well and I guess in the end he will survive,” Taraba said in an interview with the BBC’s Newshour program.
Taraba said the prime minister “was heavily injured” with one bullet entering his stomach and another hitting the joints.
“Immediately he was transported to the hospital and then to the operation,” he said.
