Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico returns to his duties after assassination attempt

(Patria) - Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, who survived an assassination attempt in May, has resumed his duties, Slovak Television reported, as cited by TASS.

During a visit to Agro Voderady, an agricultural company in the western part of the country, Fico confirmed that Slovakia does not plan to lift the ban on the import of certain Ukrainian products.

"The list of products we will not import from Ukraine remains in effect. I discussed this issue with the head of the Ukrainian government and explained to him that we cannot destroy Slovakia's agriculture," he said.

He reiterated that Bratislava serves as a transit corridor for Ukrainian agricultural products to third countries. Slovakia has banned the import of 14 Ukrainian agricultural products, including wheat, flour, bran, corn, sugar, rapeseed, sunflower seeds, honey, soybeans, and barley.

Slovakia insists that the EU make a decision to protect the domestic agricultural market from cheap imports.

The armed attack on Fico occurred on May 15 in the town of Handlova in western Slovakia. The politician sustained gunshot wounds and had to undergo several surgeries. Juraj Cintula (71) is accused of a politically motivated assassination attempt. Slovak Chief Prosecutor Maroš Žilinka stated on July 4 that the charges had been reclassified as an attempted terrorist attack.