A Slovak court upheld the sentence handed down to Juraj Cintula for the attempted assassination of Fico

The Slovak Supreme Court has upheld the sentence of 73-year-old Juraj Cintula, who was sentenced to 21 years in prison for attacking Prime Minister Robert Fico. 

This was reported by Reuters.

The court rejected the defense’s appeal and upheld the terrorism charges, as the attacker was aware of the victim’s status and sought to undermine the functioning of state authority. The crime occurred in May 2024, when Cintula fired five shots at the head of government from close range during a public meeting.

Judge Peter Kana emphasized that the planning of the attack directly indicates an intent to destabilize the country’s political system. Although the attack put Robert Fico’s life in danger, he was able to return to his official duties after prolonged treatment.

The Supreme Court’s decision is final and cannot be further appealed in national courts. This is the first case in modern Slovak history where an attack on a public figure has been classified as an act of terrorism. The trial took place amid heightened security measures and significant public attention.

It should be noted that following the assassination attempt, the country revised its security protocols for high-ranking officials. As of April 29, 2026, the convicted man had already begun serving his prison sentence.