Robert Fico, who is the Prime Minister of Slovakia, is “fighting for his life,” according to government officials. He was shot five times on Wednesday after a government meeting. He remains critical after a surgery that lasted more than three hours. Slovak officials say that the assassination attempt was “politically motivated.” Many world leaders, including President Joe Biden, have sent well wishes for his recovery, and he also said that the US Embassy stood ready to assist the government in Slovakia.

The video indicates that the gunman shot Robert Fico in Banikov Square, which is located at the center of the town of Handlova. Slovakian media said he had attended an event in the town’s House of Culture. PM Fico was shot by the gunman when he went to greet him, and then he was shot at close quarters several times.

Defense minister Robert Kalinak told journalists outside the hospital that Fico was in a critical condition and that they were hoping that he was “strong enough to make it.” He also said that the Slovakian Prime Minister suffered from “polytrauma” which he described as a “really complicated health condition.”

Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok said, “The gunman shot five times…the first information we have is that this was a politically motivated act.”

He said that Fico had been attacked as his colleague Peter Pellegrini had won the recent presidential elections in Slovakia. So, the gunman decided to attack Fico.

Estok also appealed to the public, journalists, and politicians “to stop spreading hatred” about the ruling coalition or the opposition on social networks as well as on media.

Robert Fico was elected as Prime Minister in 2023. He had to resign in 2018 after the murder of the investigative journalist Jan Kuciak and his fiancée led to street protests and more. His political comeback was based on a conservative and nationalist plank and welfare programs.

The West has been apprehensive of Robert Fico as he supports Russia against Ukraine and has stopped military aid to Ukraine but will continue to provide nonmilitary aid.