Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has been discharged from hospital after he was shot in an assassination attempt.

Mr Fico, 59, was shot at close range as he greeted supporters at a government meeting in the central Slovak town of Handlova on 15 May.

The attack left him in a serious condition and needing a five-hour operation. He underwent surgery again two days later.

Miriam Lapunikova, the director of the clinic in the central city of Banska Bystrica, said Mr Fico was taken to his home, where he continues to recover from the attack.

In recent days, the hospital said Mr Fico’s condition had been improving.

Read more:
Who is Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico?

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

A man has been arrested in the shooting, which marked the first major assassination attempt on a European political leader for more than 20 years.

Ukraine-Russia war latest: Moscow warns it could go to war with NATO over US move – as Germany follows Washington in approving strikes inside Russia with its weapons

Donald Trump found guilty in hush money case – becoming first ex-president to be criminally convicted

Trump found guilty: Seven things that helped convict ex-president in ‘hush-money’ fraud case

Mr Fico is a populist who has previously been compared to former US president Donald Trump and is seen as sympathetic to Russia President Vladimir Putin.

He staged a political comeback last year when he won parliamentary elections – raising fears he would abandon his country’s pro-Western stance.

Related posts:

France headed towards a fourth wave of COVID, says government adviser EU countries should stop being ‘so naive’ on defence, says Macron, as French sell warships to Greece The French town with the sea in its heart shows why the fishing dispute won’t just blow over Russia faces ‘severe consequences’ if Putin uses nuclear weapons ‘We have an economic Maguire’: England star mocked in Ghanaian parliament Murder probe under way after woman found dead in Ireland Kyiv hit by ‘biggest drone attack of war so far’ as five injured Shopping centre blaze kills at least 10 people Irish-Israeli schoolgirl among hostages freed in return for Palestinian prisoners in second swap Hiroshima watch with hands stuck at exact time of bombing sells for thousands Navalny’s widow accuses Putin of ‘fake’ faith for refusing to return body Botswana likens trophy hunting to culling after threats to send 10,000 elephants to Hyde Park