Slovakian Prime Minister Shot... The Reason Europe Is on Edge

Last Year’s Pro-Russia, Anti-US Pledge Leads to Re-election
Representative Pro-Russia Politician in Central and Eastern Europe

Interest in Whether They Will Influence the Ukraine War Situation

On the 15th (local time), Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico was transported to the hospital after being shot.
[Image source=Reuters·Yonhap News]

Political instability is intensifying in Slovakia, which borders Ukraine, following an assassination attempt on Prime Minister Robert Fico. Fico is known as a prominent pro-Putin politician in Central and Eastern Europe who opposes military support for Ukraine. After the attack, Fico has openly displayed his pro-Russian stance, drawing attention to the possibility of forming a pro-Russian alliance within Europe. This development raises concerns among neighboring European countries as it could potentially influence the ongoing war in Ukraine.

Assassination Attempt on Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico: "Motive is Political"

The suspect, Juraj Sintula, who was arrested immediately after shooting Prime Minister Robert Fico. [Image source=Reuters·Yonhap News]

On the 15th (local time), Prime Minister Fico was shot while meeting supporters after holding a meeting in the Handlov? region, located 150 km northeast of Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia. Of the five bullets fired, three struck his abdomen. He underwent surgery and is currently in stable condition with no life-threatening injuries.

The suspect arrested at the scene was a 71-year-old former security guard and poet named Juraj ?intula. According to the British Daily Mail, he is a member of the Slovak Writers' Association and founded a political group called "The Movement Against Violence" in 2016. He is known for criticizing Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Shortly after the outbreak of the Ukraine war in April 2022, he posted on Facebook, "This is not Slavic brotherhood but mere aggression."

Immediately after the incident, he stated that he opposed Prime Minister Fico's policies and that the attack was politically motivated. He confessed to preparing the attack following the victory of the ruling coalition led by Fico in last month's Slovak presidential election. When asked if the suspect harbored hatred toward Fico, his son explained, "My father did not vote for Fico. That's all I can say."

Given these circumstances, the primary motive for the assassination attempt appears to be opposition to Fico's pro-Russian policies. Some claims have emerged suggesting that ?intula had previously been involved with pro-Russian groups within Slovakia. Controversy is expected to continue regarding the exact motive and possible backing behind the attack.

Former Communist and Pro-Putin Politician... Re-elected on Anti-Ukraine Military Support Platform

In January, Slovak Prime Minister Roberto Picho (left) and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban (right) shake hands before an official meeting.
[Image source=AFP·Yonhap News]

Fico is known as a pro-Russian and anti-American politician even among Central and Eastern European countries. He successfully regained power in last October's general election by pledging opposition to military support for Ukraine.

Currently, Fico is the leader of Slovakia's ruling party, the Direction ? Social Democracy (SMER). Before the collapse of the Soviet Union, he joined the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia and entered politics. Later, he was active in the Democratic Left Party, the successor to the Communist Party, and in 2005, he united the Democratic Left Party and other social democratic minor parties to form the current SMER party, becoming its leader. He has served as prime minister three times: from 2006 to 2010, from 2012 to 2018, and most recently until October last year.

Notably, his anti-Ukraine military support pledge sparked controversy not only in Slovakia but across Europe during the last general election. Shortly after taking office in October last year, he announced the suspension of arms support to Ukraine. At the European Union (EU) summit held in Brussels, Belgium, he, along with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orb?n, opposed a long-term support package worth 50 billion euros (approximately 73.5 trillion KRW) for Ukraine, aligning with a pro-Russian stance.

With Peter Pellegrini, who is also pro-Russian, scheduled to take office as Slovakia's president in June, Slovakia's pro-Russian inclination is expected to strengthen further. Pellegrini won the presidential runoff on the 7th of last month with 53.1% of the vote.

Is Slovakia Forming a Pro-Russian Alliance? Concerns Over Impact on the War

A large-scale anti-government protest that took place last December in Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia. [Image source=AP·Yonhap News]

Slovakia, which shares a border with Ukraine and is located in the heart of Central Europe, is experiencing escalating political instability, spreading unease throughout Europe. If Slovakia expands its pro-Russian policies and forms alliances with other pro-Russian countries, there are concerns that this could affect the war in Ukraine.

The New York Times (NYT) reported, "Alongside Italy's Giorgia Meloni and Hungary's Viktor Orb?n, who are currently exhibiting overtly pro-Russian behavior within the European Union (EU), there are concerns that Prime Minister Fico may form a pro-Russian alliance or coalition. This could obstruct the EU's sanctions against Russia and block military and financial support to Ukraine, significantly benefiting Russia."

There are also worries that political instability within Slovakia may worsen. Andrei Matizak, a Slovak journalist, told Euronews in an interview, "Since the collapse of the Eastern Bloc and the split of Czechoslovakia in the 1990s, various political factions in Slovakia have become polarized, and political violence has intensified. Violent acts like this assassination attempt will further deteriorate Slovakia's already severe polarization."