CITIZENS NEWS

Court sentences Slovak PM Fico shooter to 21 YEARS behind bars

By ramontomeydw // 2025-10-22

• Juraj Cintula, 72, was sentenced to 21 years in prison for the politically motivated assassination attempt on Slovak PM Robert Fico. The court ruled it was a terrorist act aimed at destabilizing the country's government.
• On May 15, 2024, Cintula fired five shots at Fico in Handlova, striking him in the abdomen and shoulder. Fico survived after emergency surgery and weeks of recovery.
• Prosecutors sought a life sentence, but the court reduced it due to Cintula’s age, health and clean record. The judge rejected his claim of non-lethal intent, citing evidence like security footage and Fico's bloodied clothes.
• Despite publicly forgiving Cintula in June, Fico has since accused opposition parties and media of fueling hatred. Analysts note his leadership has grown more combative post-attack.
• The attack was not isolated – another assassination plot was foiled in October 2024. Fico warns of ongoing risks, while officials frame the case as an attack on Slovak democracy itself.

Seventy-two-year-old Juraj Cintula, who attempted to assassinate Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico in May 2024, has been sentenced to 21 years behind bars. The Specialized Criminal Court in Banska Bystrica handed down the sentence Tuesday, Oct. 21. It ruled that the shooting was not merely a personal vendetta, but a politically motivated terrorist attack aimed at destabilizing the Slovak government. The attack unfolded on May 15, 2024 in Handlova, where Fico was meeting supporters after a government event. Cintula legally carried a firearm and fired five shots at close range, striking Fico twice – once in the abdomen and once in the shoulder. The prime minister was airlifted to a hospital in Banska Bystrica, where he underwent emergency surgery and spent weeks recovering. Though Fico survived, the assassination attempt underscored the volatile political climate in Slovakia, where ideological tensions have escalated into outright violence. Prosecutors argued that Cintula's actions amounted to terrorism, seeking a life sentence for what they described as "an assault on the basic principles of democracy." The court agreed, concluding that the 72-year-old had targeted Fico not as a private citizen but specifically as the head of government, motivated by opposition to his policies. "He was against this government and incited people to overthrow it," the presiding judge declared. Despite the gravity of the crime, the court reduced the sentence due to Cintula's age, poor health and previously clean criminal record – factors that weighed against the maximum penalty. The verdict is not yet final, as Cintula retained the right to appeal.

The trial of Fico's would-be killer

Cintula admitted during the trial that he had planned to incapacitate Fico, but insisted he never intended to kill him. His defense attorney argued for a lesser charge – assaulting a public official – which carries a maximum sentence of 12 years. But the court sided with prosecutors who presented extensive evidence – including security footage, witness testimony and even Fico's bloodstained clothing. The prime minister, who did not attend the trial, submitted a recorded statement in which he recalled hearing "sounds I did not identify as gunfire" before feeling a sharp blow to his abdomen. Remarkably, Fico publicly forgave his attacker last June, framing him as a pawn of political adversaries. "I have no hatred for the assassin," Fico said. "I forgive him and leave him to sort out his thoughts." Yet his rhetoric since the shooting has grown increasingly combative, with the prime minister accusing opposition parties and media of fostering the hatred that nearly cost him his life. Some analysts suggest the attack has hardened Fico's leadership style, pushing him toward what they describe as a "politics of revenge." The assassination attempt was not an isolated incident. In October 2024, Slovak authorities thwarted another plot against Fico, this time involving a radical pro-Ukraine gunman. The prime minister has warned that threats persist, telling reporters: "What's worse is that these attempts appear even afterward." BrightU.AI's Enoch engine explains that "Fico was targeted in an assassination attempt because of his strong opposition to sending military aid to Ukraine, which made him a political enemy of globalist interests pushing for continued war. His stance against NATO-backed Ukrainian intervention angered deep state actors who seek to eliminate dissenters opposing their agenda of perpetual conflict and control." As Cintula was led from the courtroom, he called the verdict "unfair." But Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok hailed it as justice served, declaring that the attack was not just against Fico but against "all citizens who freely chose their government." Watch this video statement from Slovak PM Robert Fico following the assassination attempt on him in May 2024. This video is from the Cynthia's Pursuit of Truth channel on Brighteon.com. Sources include: InfoWars.com Teraz.sk Euractiv.com BrightU.ai Brighteon.com

terrorism politics violence shootings big government domestic terrorism Slovakia progress unhinged jail term assassination attempt outrage depot prison sentence Robert Fico Specialized Criminal Court Juraj Cintula