A Slovak court today found the man who shot and wounded Prime Minister Robert Fico last year guilty on terrorism charges and sentenced him to 21 years in prison.

Juraj Cidula, 72, shot Fico at close range while the prime minister was waving to citizens in the central Slovak town of Hadlova in May 2024.

The verdict by the Special Criminal Court in the town of Banska Bistrica concludes a trial that began in July with the key question of whether Cidula, who admitted shooting Fico, is guilty of terrorism.

The convicted man can appeal to the country’s highest court.

Fico was hit four times and seriously injured in the abdomen, and suffered injuries to his hip, arm and leg. He made his first public appearance since the attack last July.

Cidula said he wanted to injure but not kill Fico because he wanted to prevent him from continuing his policies, which he said “hurt” Slovak freedom and culture.