Slovak court sentences Fico's attacker to 21 years for terrorism

A Slovak court has delivered a 21-year prison sentence to Juraj Cintula, the 72-year-old man convicted of carrying out a terrorist attack by shooting and wounding Prime Minister Robert Fico. The ruling from the Specialized Criminal Court follows a trial that stemmed from the assassination attempt in the central town of Handlova on May 15, 2024, an event that sent shockwaves through the European nation.

Mitigating Factors Reduce Potential Life Term

While prosecutors successfully argued that Cintula's actions constituted a clear terrorist offense, the court decided against a life sentence. The judge applied extraordinary mitigating circumstances, citing the defendant's advanced age, his lack of a prior criminal record, and his overall health condition as reasons for the reduced term of 21 years. The defendant's legal team had sought to have the charges downgraded to a lesser crime targeting a public official.

Verdict Remains Subject to Appeal

The legal process is not yet concluded, as the convicted individual has reserved his right to appeal the decision. This means the 21-year sentence is not final and could be challenged in a higher court. The trial, which commenced on July 8, was conducted over eight main hearings, meticulously examining the details of the attack that left the Slovak premier injured.