• A Slovak court sentenced Juraj Cintula to 21 years for shooting PM Robert Fico in 2024.
• Cintula was found guilty of terrorism, claiming political motivations behind his actions.
• The attack has intensified debates on Fico's governance and political climate in Slovakia.

A Slovak court has sentenced Juraj Cintula, who shot Prime Minister Robert Fico last year, to 21 years in prison for terrorism. Cintula, 72, shot Fico on May 15, 2024, as the prime minister greeted supporters in Handlová, inflicting serious injuries including multiple gunshot wounds to his abdomen, hand, hip, and foot. The Specialised Criminal Court in Banska Bystrica ruled that Cintula acted to disrupt the government, marking his actions as a "particularly serious" crime, with room for an appeal available to him according to Reuters.

The shooting, which left Fico hospitalized and requiring multiple surgeries, stemmed from Cintula's expressed "moral despair" regarding Fico's policies, particularly his stance on military aid to Ukraine and cultural issues. Cintula reportedly stated that his intent was to injure rather than kill and characterized his defense as a "manifesto for all who feel that the arrogance of power has no place in the country," according to Le Monde, Al Jazeera, and Los Angeles Times.

Cintula was arrested immediately after the assassination attempt, which has sparked significant political tension in Slovakia, especially given Fico's controversial stance towards Russia and the EU. Following the shooting, Cintula's initial charges were upgraded to terrorism because prosecutors emphasized his political motivation, as noted in reports from Anadolu Agency and Los Angeles Times.

Fico, who did not attend the trial, previously expressed forgiveness towards Cintula, describing him as a "messenger of evil" stemming from media and political opposition, although no evidence has confirmed these claims. This significant incident has heightened scrutiny of Slovakia's political climate and Fico's leadership, aligning with the growing concerns about authoritarian policies and increasing political division, referenced in Reuters, Anadolu Agency, and Al Jazeera.