Sutaj Estok: Aggression Must Never Become Tool in Democracy

Bratislava, 21 October (TASR) – Aggression must never become a tool in a democracy, Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok (Voice-SD) stated on social media on Monday in response to the verdict handed down by the Specialised Criminal Court (STS) in the case of the terrorist attack on Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD). "It must never become the norm that hatred replaces dialogue and bullets replace arguments," posted Sutaj Estok. "A verdict has been passed on a man who attempted to assassinate the prime minister. However, this individual didn't only attack the prime minister — he attacked all the people who, in free and democratic elections, decided whom to entrust with the task of leading the country. He attacked the very essence of democracy – the right of every citizen to shape the future of Slovakia with a ballot paper, not a weapon," the minister added. Sutaj Estok described as "deplorable" that, according to him, some have questioned whether the assassination attempt actually took place, particularly in the context of political campaigning. "The media and opposition politicians have stooped so low as to distort an obvious fact. Fortunately, Slovakia has an independent judiciary," he remarked. Juraj C., who shot at the prime minister in Handlova on 15 May of last year, has been found guilty of committing a terrorist attack. STS in Banská Bystrica sentenced him to 21 years in prison. The verdict is not yet final, as it can be appealed against. mf/df