Slovak media identified the assassin who shot Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico , like 71-year-old Juraj Chintula, a self-described writer who previously worked as a security guard and is believed to be linked to the pro-Russian group "Slovak Defenders" (Slovački branci), reports "Euronews", handed over News.bg.
‼️🇷🇺Wow. Looks like Slovak PM Robert Fico's reported assailant, writer Juraj Cintula, was associated with pro-Russian paramilitary group Slovenskí Branci (SB). Their leader was even trained by Russian ex-Spetsnaz soldiers. Read more on @VSquare_Project 👇https: //t.co/2IzSHwq54d pic.twitter.com/M9fgp186R3
— Szabolcs Panyi (@panyiszabolcs) May 15, 2024
At the moment, the Slovak prime minister is in hospital after the shooting, which took place after the meeting of his cabinet in the town of Handlova. According to the daily Dennik N, the suspect in the attempt is the self-identified writer Chintula from the small town of Levice and a founding member of the "Rainbow" literary club. Hungarian investigative journalist Szabolch Pani found Facebook posts that showed Chyntula as a sympathizer and supporter of the pro-Russian paramilitary group "Slovak Defenders", known for its ties to the Kremlin. She is accused of trying to recruit young men in Slovakia for her paramilitary organization. In a post from January 2016, Chintula is seen giving a speech to members of the group dressed in camouflage clothing.
In the accompanying text, attributed to Chintula, he expresses extremist views in support of self-organized militias, which he says should be allowed to protect "the people, the country, the tradition and the culture" from migrants coming from outside Europe. Chintula has written three collections of poetry and published two novels titled "The Message of Self-Sacrifice" in 2010 and "Efata" in 2015, according to his literary club's Facebook page. The latter is an open attack on the Roma community in Slovakia, and in this novel he criticizes the state and accuses the Roma of abusing social benefits.
The Association of Slovak Writers registered Cintula as a member in 2015, but has since tried to distance itself from him, issuing the following statement: "We express our outrage at such a brutal act, which has no parallel in the history of Slovakia." ;. Chintula reportedly held a gun license and previously worked as a security guard for a private security firm, where he himself was attacked in a shopping mall.
Markíza TV station reported a short video showing the suspect, which was released shortly after his arrest. In the video, he states: "I don't agree with the government's policies. Why is the media under attack? Why is RTVS under attack? Why was Mazak released from his post?". It is the first assassination attempt on a high-ranking politician in the history of modern Slovakia, which gained independence in 1993. The country's attorney general, Maros Žilinka, vowed that the attacker would take "uncompromisingly" punishment by law enforcement.
Fico's allies accused the "liberal media" for the attack and accused journalists of creating an environment that fostered hatred of the prime minister and his populist policies. Ljubos Blaha, Deputy Speaker of the Slovak Parliament and Deputy Speaker of the "Smer" party of Fitzo, stated: "On behalf of "Smer" I want to strongly condemn what happened in Handlova and at the same time express my strong disgust with what you have done here in recent years. You - liberal media and political opposition. What hatred are you spreading against Robert Fitzo" . The country's largest opposition party, Progressive Slovakia, called off a protest against the Fico government's controversial reform of the state-funded public broadcaster. Party leader Michal Simechka explained that this move aims to avoid an "escalation of tensions".