Prosecutors had initially sought a life sentence, but the court granted extraordinary mitigation, reducing the punishment to 21 years. Cintula’s lawyer indicated plans to appeal, seeking to downgrade the conviction to a lesser offence involving an attack on a public official.

The trial, which began in July, featured eight hearings and drew national attention.

Fico was shot multiple times on May 15, 2024, after a government meeting in the town of Handlova. He was airlifted to a hospital in serious condition but survived after multiple surgeries.

Cintula, a former security guard and amateur poet, was arrested at the scene. Authorities described the attack as politically motivated, marking one of the most serious acts of violence against a European leader in recent years.