Following the shooting of Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico, there fears that this cause conflict as Vladimir Putin could look at ways to exploit the assassination attempt.
A 71-year old Juraj Cintula was arrested has been charged in what the defence and interior ministers have both called that attack as “politically motivated.”
The Slovakian Prime Minister underwent five hours of surgery overnight and he is set to undergo “another operation.”
Slovakia’s Deputy Prime Minister Robert Kaliňák said on Thursday that Robert Fico is “expected to survive” and he is no longer in a life-threatening condition.
Deputy Prime Minister Tomas Taraba said, “Fortunately as far as I know the operation went well – and I guess in the end he will survive. He’s not in a life-threatening situation at this moment.”
Colonel Hamish de Bretton-Gordon, a former commanding officer of the 1st Royal Tank Regiment, has warned that the shooting could cause a “wider war” across Europe.
Speaking to the Daily Mail Colonel de Bretton-Gordon said, “There are high stakes in Europe, and the threat of a wider war only benefits Putin.
“This is yet another wake-up call to the West. If we ignore this latest threat to Western security, the chances of getting drawn into a wider war in Europe are manifestly greater.
On Wednesday Putin said, “I know Robert Fico to be a courageous and strong-spirited man. I very much hope that these qualities will help him to withstand this difficult situation.”
Former chairman of the Commons Defence Committee, and former British Army office Tobias Ellwood, warned that Slovakia is under threat from Russia.
Ellwood said, “As Slovakia increasingly comes under threat from Russia’s influence this tragic incident could easily be used as justification to introduce similar draconian restrictions as we now see in Hungary and Belarus.
