Robert Fico, the Prime Minister of Slovakia, was critically injured in an assassination attempt on Wednesday. He sustained several gunshot wounds and is currently in critical condition.

Russia has condemned the attack and wished Fico a speedy recovery. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova praised Fico's courage and determination in the face of pressure, stating that he is not afraid to speak his mind. She also drew attention to the "heinous rhetoric of hate" that surrounded the assassination attempt, which she attributed to the pro-Ukrainian media and the West's "rhetoric of hate" against Russia.

Fico's close ally, Deputy Parliament Speaker Lubos Blaha, also blamed the "liberal media" for creating the atmosphere that made the assassination attempt possible. He condemned the attack and expressed disgust at the "hatred" spread against Fico.

The nation's biggest opposition party, Progressive Slovakia, called off a planned protest against a government public broadcaster reform in the wake of the incident.

Deputy Prime Minister Robert Kalinak stated that the attack was politically motivated. The suspected assailant, Juraj Cintula, was detained at the scene and told police that he shot Fico because he "disagreed" with his government's policies.