The Supreme Court of the Slovak Republic has upheld a 21-year prison sentence for shooter Juraj Cintula over the attempted assassination of Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico. The court confirmed that Cintula is guilty of carrying out a terrorist attack, making the appellate ruling final. The case involved a minor adjustment in legal classification compared to the original verdict, but the overall conclusion remained unchanged.
Cintula had been charged with an especially serious terrorist offense against a protected public official and faced a potential life sentence. The court found no doubt that he carried out the act, and the main dispute concerned its legal interpretation. According to the court’s reasoning, he acted with intent to harm the constitutional order and targeted a public official while endangering life and health.
The attack took place during a government field meeting in May 2024 in Handlová, when Cintula fired five shots from a legally owned weapon as Fico approached supporters. The prime minister suffered multiple injuries but survived. Cintula later stated he did not intend to kill Fico, but wanted to prevent him from continuing as prime minister. He appealed the original ruling, arguing he did not aim to destabilize the state’s constitutional system or executive power.
The prosecution maintained that the original verdict by the Specialized Criminal Court was correct and fair, arguing that the attack was directed at Fico specifically in his role as head of government. The Supreme Court ultimately agreed, rejecting the appeal and confirming the sentence.
Source: TASR
