Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico underwent successful surgery after being shot at close range in an assassination attempt.
Fico’s Deputy, Tomas Taraba, confirmed the success of the surgery to the BBC, stating, “The surgery had gone well, and I guess that in the end, he will survive.”
Earlier reports had described Fico, 59, as “fighting for his life” after sustaining grave injuries in the assassination attempt in the small town of Handlova.
A suspect was apprehended at the scene of the shooting. Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estoka characterized the incident as a politically motivated assassination attempt.
The assailant fired five shots at close range, hitting Mr. Fico in the stomach and arm. Following the shooting, he was swiftly transported to the hospital and underwent several hours of surgery, during which he was, as Defence Minister Robert Kalinak described, “fighting for his life.”
