Slovenia to investigate possible ties of president's circle with Russia
A political scandal has erupted in Slovenia around President Natasha Pirc Musar following reports about ties of her close friend with a former Slovenian intelligence officer who lived in Russia for many years. A parliamentary commission intends to request data from the SOVA intelligence agency on possible Russian interference, while the president categorically denies any links to the Russian intelligence network.
This is reported by TVP World citing Slovenian media and AFP.
The story gained wide resonance after a car accident in late July involving the president's official car. Among the passengers was her long-time friend Victoria Krivolucká, a Russian-born woman who obtained Slovenian citizenship in 2016.
A joint investigation by Slovenian newspaper Dnevnik and Austrian agency APA found that Krivolucká previously lived in Russia and for several years was in a relationship with Roman Jeglič, a former deputy head of Slovenia's Security and Information Service VIS. In the 1990s he moved to Russia.
Furthermore, journalists established that before Pirc Musar became president, she repeatedly traveled to Russia with Krivolucká. According to Slovenian media, they made seven joint trips. The president's office stated these were private tourist trips.
Parliament demanded checks
Amid the reports, the Slovenian parliamentary commission overseeing intelligence and security services decided to hold an emergency session. It plans to request from the Slovenian Intelligence and Security Agency SOVA information on possible Russian interference and potential risks to national security.
MP Žan Mahnič of the ruling Slovenian Democratic Party went further and proposed that the government suspend intelligence and other classified reports to the president and her staff until circumstances are clarified.
He justified the initiative with suspicions regarding contacts of people from Pirc Musar's inner circle with Russia. However, no public evidence has been presented so far that the president herself or Krivolucká collaborated with Russian intelligence services.
The president's office categorically rejected allegations of Pirc Musar collaborating with the Russian intelligence network. They also reminded that the head of state by law has the right to receive classified information without separate vetting.
SOVA had already checked president's friend
Slovenian intelligence previously reported that Krivolucká underwent a security check in 2016 as part of the citizenship procedure. At that time SOVA did not find circumstances posing a security threat.
The presidential office stressed that the agency subsequently also did not notify the president's administration of any new risks.
Krivolucká herself acknowledged that in the past she had been in a relationship with Jeglič for several years, but stated that she has not been in contact with him for about 15 years. In an interview with Slovenian media she also rejected suggestions of working for Russian, Slovenian or any other intelligence services.
Pirc Musar has been President of Slovenia since December 2022. She holds a pro-European stance and since the start of the full-scale invasion has repeatedly condemned Russian aggression against Ukraine.
