Slovakia’s deputy prime minister Tomáš Taraba says Robert Fico “is expected to survive” following an apparent assassination attempt at a political event on Wednesday.
Taraba told the BBC that the populist leader was shot multiple times.
“One bullet went through the stomach and the second one hit the joint. Immediately he was transported to hospital.”
Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok said a suspect is in custody and that initial investigations indicated “a clear political motivation” behind the shooting.
Local media has released a photograph of the suspect, identified as 71-year-old writer Juraj Cintula.
Fico has previously expressed support for Russian President Vladimir Putin and is currently pushing for a contentious reform of Slovakia’s public radio and television services.
EURONEWS
