On Tuesday, a Slovak court found a man guilty of terrorism and sentenced him to 21 years in prison for an assassination attempt on Prime Minister Robert Fico last year, reports Associated Press.

Juraj Čintula opened fire on Fico on May 15, 2024, after a government offsite meeting in Handlová, about 140 kilometers northeast of the capital Bratislava, as the Prime Minister was greeting his supporters.

The 72-year-old Čintula was arrested immediately after the attack and placed in custody. During questioning, he denied being a terrorist.

Fico was shot in the abdominal area and transported from Handlová to a hospital in the nearby city of Banská Bystrica. He underwent a five-hour surgery, followed two days later by another two-hour operation. He has since recovered.

Čintula stated that his motive for the shooting was disagreement with government policies. He refused to testify at the Specialized Criminal Court in Banská Bystrica but confirmed that what he told investigators about his motives was truthful.