Slovenian court has acquitted former Prime Minister Jansa from corruption charges

Court in Slovenia issued a first -instance verdict yesterday to acquit charges of abuse of office and corruption former Prime Minister Janez Jansa and the two alleged accomplices.

Jansa, the president of the main opposition Slovenian Democratic Party, has dismissed the indictment as an attempt to remove it from politics before the 2026 general elections.

« Although it was a clear and visible farce from the beginning, the prosecutor demanded two years in prison, » Jansa said after leaving the court. He added that this is a victory, but that the fight is not over.

The acquittal, according to him, comes after nearly 15 years of trials, trials, defamation and theft of health, life, freedom and time.

– Delayed justice is denied justice, no matter what the end result. That’s why our struggle is yet to start – said Jansa.

Hundreds of his supporters gathered in front of the Celje court building, waving Slovenian flags and carrying banners with accusations against the judiciary, Slovenian media reported.

The prosecution announced that after submitting written explanations it would appeal the verdict to a higher court.

European Parliament MP Branko Grims said in a statement to RTV Slovenia that the acquittal was « a result of what it is impossible to defend the verdict to the international public, which was also informed of the events ».

According to him, the fact remains that this trial should have never happened and that it is « rough, shameless human rights violations ».

« The first hearing was scheduled for the birthday of the wife of Janez Jansa, Urska Bachovnik, the second hearing of Janez Jansa’s birthday, the verdict was announced on Good Friday, » he said, adding that it was « pure court abuse ».

Jansa, 66, was charged with abuse of power in the sale of property in 2005 in the first term as prime minister.

The case also included the executives of two firms Branko Kastelic and Clemen Gantar who were involved in a series of transactions related to Jansa’s own parcel in exchange for buying an apartment for him in Ljubljana.

Jansa, who advocated Slovenian independence since the then Yugoslavia in 1991, was sentenced in 2013 to two years in prison for bribery in agreement with the Finnish Defense Group « Patria » in 2006, in the second term as prime minister.

He dismissed all accusations.