Slovenian president denies ties to Russian intelligence

Slovenia's parliamentary security committee is urging the country's intelligence agency to produce an urgent report on potential links between President Nataša Pirc Musar and a Russian national friend. Pirc Musar has adamantly denied any association with Russian intelligence, according to TVP World's report dated Aug. 21. The parliamentary committee has invited Slovenia's intelligence agency, SOVA, to testify next week regarding any possible connections between Pirc Musar and Russian intelligence.

Meanwhile, Žan Mahnič, a lawmaker from the ruling center-right Slovenian Democratic Party (SDS), has called for the government to cease sharing intelligence and security reports with the president. Mahnič raised concerns about Pirc Musar's potential ties to a Russian spy network, citing suspicions. Pirc Musar, who ran as an independent candidate, strongly refuted these allegations in a statement.

The scrutiny of the president has heightened following reports about her long-time friend, Viktorija Krivolucka, a Slovenian-Russian citizen. In late July, Pirc Musar was hospitalized after sustaining a collarbone injury in a car accident, during which Krivolucka was present in the president's official vehicle. Earlier this week, Slovenian media reported that Krivolucka had a close relationship with Roman Jeglič, a former Slovenian intelligence officer who fled to Russia in the 1990s.

Krivolucka confirmed she had a romantic relationship with Jeglič and lived with him in Russia for several years, but claimed she had no contact with him for over 15 years.