(18 May 2024)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Banska Bystrica, Slovakia – 18 May 2024
1. Pan of briefing outside hospital with Slovak Health Minister Zuzana Dolinkova
2. SOUNDBITE (Slovak) Zuzana Dolinkova, Slovak Health Minister:
"After a brief conversation with the medical staff and with the director of the Roosevelt Hospital, we can tell you that this morning’s medical board has assessed that the prime minister’s (Robert Fico) health is stable. Nevertheless, the medical condition is still serious, and it must be said that yesterday’s surgery, which lasted two hours, contributed to a positive prognosis for the development of the prime minister’s health."
3. Wide of briefing
4. SOUNDBITE (Slovak) Robert Kalinak, Slovak Defense Minister:
"I think several miracles have occurred in Banská Bystrica in the last few days, coming from the hands of the doctors, nurses, and entire medical staff of Roosevelt Hospital. I can’t find words of gratitude for the fact that we are steadily approaching that positive prognosis."
5. Cameras
6. SOUNDBITE (Slovak) Robert Kalinak, Slovak Defense Minister:
"We have agreed that the government will continue with the agenda that he (Fico) has set. This means there will be at least two Cabinet meetings next week, one standard and one special, because of the negotiations on the euro funds. The deadline for submitting laws to Parliament is approaching, so the state must continue to function as Prime Minister Robert Fico has set all these parameters so that we will continue smoothly. Perhaps today in Bratislava, we will have further information on other parts of Slovakia’s functioning at this time."
7. Wide of briefing
8. SOUNDBITE (Slovak) Robert Kalinak, Slovak Defense Minister:
"I do not think that the prime minister’s transfer to Bratislava will be possible in the next few days. His condition is really serious, and certainly, it does not allow us to make such a transfer in the near future — that is, at the end of the weekend. That means the prime minister will still be here."
9. Wide of briefing
STORYLINE:
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico ’s condition was serious but stable Saturday as the man accused of trying to assassinate him faced his first court appearance.
Two hours of surgery Friday to remove dead tissue from Fico’s multiple gunshot wounds led to a good prognosis for his recovery but he was still not well enough to travel to a hospital in the capital, Bratislava, government ministers said outside University F. D. Roosevelt Hospital in Banska Bystrica, where Fico was taken by helicopter after the shooting.
“Several miracles have occurred in Banska Bystrica in recent days coming from the hands of doctors, nurses and the personnel at the Roosevelt Hospital," Defense Minister Robert Kalinak said.
Fico, 59, was attacked as he greeted supporters following a government meeting Wednesday in the former coal mining town of Handlova. The suspect was tackled to the ground and arrested.
The update on Fico’s health was issued as the man accused of attempting to assassinate him made his first court appearance, according to Slovak state media.
Prosecutors were seeking an order from Slovakia’s Specialized Criminal Court to detain the suspect.
Prosecutors told police not to publicly identify the man or release other details about the case, but unconfirmed media reports said he was a 71-year-old retiree known as an amateur poet who may have once worked as a mall security guard in the country’s southwest.
AP video shot by Lefteris Pitarakis
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