Slovak PM Robert Fico no longer in critical condition

Slovakian prime minister Robert Fico is no longer in a life-threatening condition, deputy prime minister Tomas Taraba told the BBC on Wednesday night. Fico was shot on Wednesday in what is believed to be a politically motivated attack.

Slovak media report that Fico regained consciousness after several hours in surgery. No further details were given about his condition. According to Taraba, Fico will survive the assassination attempt. "He is no longer in a life-threatening situation," he told the BBC.

On Thursday morning, Defence minister Robert Kalinak provided more information. "This night, doctors managed to stabilise the patient's condition," he said. "Unfortunately, his condition is still very serious as his injuries are complicated."

"Unfortunately, his condition is still very serious as his injuries are complicated"

Fico was shot in the town of Handlova on Wednesday. The gunman reportedly fired five shots. Slovak media report that a 71-year-old writer has been arrested. The man is said to have published several books of poetry and was a member of the official Slovak Writers' Association.

Political attack

Kalinak called the shooting a "political attack" at a press conference on Wednesday. Fico, 59, is known to have Russian sympathies and is a member of the conservative SMER-SD party, which opposes immigration and gay marriage.

Interior minister Matus Sutaj Estok announced extra police protection for politicians, officials and journalists. He also called on the media, politicians and the public to stop 'inciting hatred against political opponents on social media".

^{© PHOTO SAMEER AL-DOUMY / AFP}