In a landmark ruling, Juraj Cintula, the 72-year-old pensioner who shot and severely injured Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico in May 2024, has been sentenced to 21 years in prison on terrorism charges. The attack occurred during Fico’s visit to Handlova, a town approximately 180 kilometers from Bratislava. Cintula fired five shots at close range, targeting the prime minister as he extended his hand in what he believed was a friendly gesture. Footage from the scene captured the chilling moment when Cintula raised his weapon and fired before being swiftly subdued by Fico’s security team. Fico sustained life-threatening abdominal injuries and was airlifted to a nearby hospital for emergency surgery. In court, Cintula denied intent to kill, claiming he aimed away from vital organs to merely injure Fico and halt policies he deemed detrimental to Slovakia. Despite his defense, Judge Igor Kralik emphasized that the attack was a direct assault on the prime minister, not an ordinary citizen. Cintula’s lawyer sought to downgrade the charge to attacking a public official, which carries a lesser penalty, but the request was denied. The defense has indicated plans to appeal the verdict. The incident has further polarized Slovakia’s political landscape, with Fico accusing the opposition of inciting hatred, even as his own rhetoric remains deeply divisive.