Attacker rails against Slovak prime minister as shooting trial begins

By Jan Lopatka

BANSKA BYSTRICA, Slovakia (Reuters) -The man who shot and seriously wounded Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico last year railed against Fico as he was led in shackles into court on Tuesday, at the start of a trial that could see him jailed for life.

Juraj Cintula, 72, acknowledges shooting the prime minister in May last year but denies intending to kill him. Prosecutors call it an act of terrorism.

Asked by a reporter as he was being led into the Specialised Criminal Court building in the small city of Banska Bystrica why he had shot the prime minister, Cintula said: "Because he throttled culture."

"Long live free culture!" he shouted as he was being led in shackles on hands and feet, dressed in a light blue-violet button shirt. "Long live democracy!"

Prosecutor Katarina Habcakova told the court that authorities had rejected an offer from Cintula's defence team to settle the case by accepting a 12-year prison sentence.

"Cintula acted to disable (Fico) permanently from performing his duty as prime minister and thus prevent the government from its proper functioning," Habcakova said.

In the court, Cintula's defence lawyer said the defence rejected the terrorism charge, as not every attack on an official was terrorism and Cintula acted solely against Fico.

The attacker fired five shots from a handgun from 1.2 metres (four feet) as the prime minister greeted citizens in the central Slovak town of Hand. Fico was hit four times, including in the abdomen.

The shooting exacerbated political tension in Slovakia. Fico, 60, a populist in power for 11 years over three stints since 2006, has blamed the mostly liberal, pro-EU opposition for fostering a climate of anger that led to the shooting. His political opponents say they had nothing to do with it.

Cintula, a pensioner and former mine worker, stonemason and security guard, has told investigators he shot at Fico to hurt but not kill him, due to what he said were disagreements with the prime minister's policies on Ukraine, media and culture.

Since returning to power in 2023 on a platform of opposing military aid to Ukraine and seeking better relations with Moscow, Fico has repeatedly clashed with Slovakia's partners in the European Union and NATO.

He has also pushed through criminal law and media changes which opponents say undermine democracy. Echoing Prime Minister Victor Orban of neighbouring Hungary, he has pledged to build a "dam against liberalism" through constitutional reforms.

Fico's tilt towards Russia triggered large public protests earlier this year, which he said were aimed at triggering a coup, which organisers deny.

Fico has said he has forgiven Cintula and does not intend to attend the trial unless called to testify. The court has set hearings for Tuesday and Wednesday, with further hearings possible later this year before a verdict is reached.

(Reporting by Jan LopatkaEditing by Gareth Jones and Peter Graff)