Evidence of accomplices
Fico assassin is said not to have been a “lone wolf”
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In an attack, Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico was seriously wounded by several shots. The authorities initially assumed that the attack was carried out by a lone perpetrator. They are now investigating whether other people were involved in the attack.
The man who critically injured Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico on Wednesday may not have been a lone perpetrator. There is evidence for this, Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok told journalists in Bratislava. “We have put together a team of investigators who will also work with the version that it was not a lone wolf.”
One of the clues is that the complete content history of the perpetrator's Facebook page was deleted two hours after his arrest. At that time, he was in the hands of the police and did not have access to the page himself. His wife was also unable to access it at that moment, the minister explained.
It needs to be examined whether “the perpetrator belonged to a certain group of people who could have recruited and supported each other for this crime,” said Estok. Initially, the Interior Ministry assumed that the man had acted alone.
Defense Minister Robert Kalinak also said there were indications that the assassination attempt had been “discussed in a wider circle.” “All of this is shocking information and for many of us it would be much easier if we could only speak of one person.” The situation is proving to be “even worse than we expected,” said Kalinak.
Sutaj Estok issued a warning to “all keyboard heroes” who approved of the assassination attempt on the 59-year-old head of government on the Internet or spread other hate messages and calls for violence. The police will take ruthless action against all such agitators, find them and ensure that they are punished.
Positive forecast for Fico
Four days after the attack, Fico is no longer in danger of dying. However, his health is still serious, said Deputy Prime Minister Robert Kalinak. “We are all a little calmer,” he said outside the hospital in Banska Bystrica where Fico is being treated. However, a transfer to a hospital in the capital Bratislava cannot yet be considered, said Kalinak. But the worst fears are over for now.
The 59-year-old pro-Russian head of government was shot and hit by several bullets by a man during a meeting with citizens in front of a cultural center in the central Slovakian town of Handlova on Wednesday. Video footage showed him approaching onlookers from behind barriers and trying to shake hands when a man stepped forward, stretched out his arm and fired shots. The attacker was overpowered and arrested.
According to media reports, the suspected assassin who was arrested is 71 years old, a former security guard and author of poetry books. He was charged with attempted murder. A court decided on Saturday that the suspect should remain in custody.
Investigations against Fico's bodyguard
Immediately after the attack, criticism was voiced about the behavior of Fico's bodyguards. Experts are particularly critical of their chaotic behavior. They are surprised that the attacker was able to fire several shots and no one stood in front of him. The authorities are investigating whether his bodyguards did not protect him sufficiently. An investigation “for obstruction of the duties of an official” was already launched on Wednesday, a spokeswoman for the authorities told the TASR news agency.
In April, Fico shared his assessment on Facebook that the rising tensions in Slovakia could lead to the assassination of a politician. He accused the media of stoking the tensions.
The left-wing populist Fico has long been controversial. His government has taken steps to reform public broadcasting. Critics fear that this would give the government full control over public television and radio. Fico's plans to revise the penal code have also raised concerns that he is pursuing an autocratic course.
Fico took office as prime minister in October, a position he has held three times since 2006. Since then, he has initiated a policy change that critics in the opposition describe as a grab for power. He has cut back aid to Ukraine and at the same time sought dialogue with Russia. He blamed NATO for Russia's war of aggression. He also disempowered a special public prosecutor's office that was supposed to take action against corruption.
