Slovak authorities charge ‘lone wolf’ with assassination attempt on prime minister

BANSKA BYSTRICA, Slovakia (AP) — Slovak authorities charged a man Thursday with attempting to assassinate Prime Minister Robert Fico, saying he acted alone in a politically motivated attack that left the longtime leader in serious but stable condition.

Fico's pro-Russia views have contributed to deep divisions in the small European country that borders Ukraine, and the shooting attack Wednesday shocked the nation and reverberated across the continent weeks ahead of elections for the European Parliament.

While President-elect Peter Pelligrini and President Zuzana Caputova urged people to dial back the sharp rhetoric that has characterised the country's political debate, some Fico allies took aim at Slovakia's media for contributing to the polarisation.

Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok asked journalists to “reflect” on how they had covered Fico's policies.

He referred to the suspect — who was charged with premeditated murder — as a “lone wolf” who did not belong to any political groups, though he said the attack itself was politically motivated.

“I can confirm that this person is not a member of any right-wing or left-wing radicalised party,” Estok said.

Fico, 59, was in serious but stable condition a day after being shot multiple times, a hospital official said. Pellegrini said he spoke to Fico and that his condition “remains very serious.”

Fico has long been a divisive figure in Slovakia and beyond.

His return to power last year on a pro-Russian, anti-American message led to even greater worries among fellow European Union and NATO members that he would abandon his country's pro-Western course — particularly on Ukraine.

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