UIS: Inspectorate Investigator Knows Who Made Recording of Premier's Assailant

Bratislava, April 22 (TASR) - An investigator of the Internal Affairs Inspectorate (UIS) "knows exactly" which police officer made the recording of the detained assailant Juraj C. (name abbreviated due to legal reasons) shortly after the shooting of Premier Robert Fico (Smer-SD), UIS spokeswoman Andrea Dobiasova told TASR on Tuesday, adding that his phone was confiscated and this police officer sent the video only to "authorised persons", however, even after interviewing witnesses, the inspection didn't find out who posted the video on a social network. "However, the release of the record is a mandatory feature of the objective aspect of the related factual basis of the crime, without the clarification of which it is not possible to establish liability against a specific person. Therefore, the investigation has been suspended, which means that if the investigator learns new facts, the case will be continued," said Dobiasova. Some opposition representatives have criticised the security forces for failing to investigate properly a leaked video featuring detained assailant Juraj C. shortly after he shot Premier Fico multiple times in May 2024. MP Juraj Krupa (Freedom and Solidarity/SaS) believes that the top management of UIS and the Slovak Intelligence Service (SIS) should step down from their posts, while Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok (Voice-SD) should also accept political responsibility. Juraj C. shot the premier multiple times and left him seriously injured during a government away-from-home session in the town of Handlova (Trencin region) on May 15, 2024. Juraj C. was initially charged with an aggravated crime of premeditated attempted murder. In July 2024, the legal classification was changed to an aggravated crime of a terrorist attack. The prosecution filed an indictment against him in March. He's currently in custody and faces a life sentence if convicted. am