A Slovak court on Tuesday sentenced Juraj Cintula, a 72-year-old poet and activist, to 21 years in prison for terrorism after he shot Prime Minister Robert Fico. 

Cintula’s attorney told journalists after the trial that they will appeal the verdict to the Slovak Supreme Court.

In May 2024, Cintula joined a gathering of Fico supporters before firing five shots at the Slovak prime minister with a pistol from close range.

Fico survived the attack after emergency surgery. In a message after the shooting, he publicly forgave the attacker and blamed the Slovak opposition for fueling the political climate that led to the attack.

Cintula reportedly told police he didn’t intend to kill Fico, but only to injure him so he could no longer serve as the country’s leader. Cintula disagreed on Fico’s Ukraine policy, among other political issues. 

He was initially charged with attempted murder, but prosecutors later upgraded the charge to terrorism. He faced 25 years behind bars, but received a shorter sentence due to his age.

Fico did not attend the trial himself and was represented by his attorney.