Slovenian President faces scrutiny over frequent trips to Russia

Slovenian President Nataša Pirc Musar is facing scrutiny following reports regarding her frequent private travels to Russia. Investigations by Dnevnik and the Austrian news agency APA revealed that Pirc Musar traveled to Russia at least seven times since 2015 with her long-time friend, Viktorija Krivolucka.

One notable trip occurred between late December 2021 and early January 2022, just weeks before the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The President's office has defended these trips, stating they were strictly private and occurred before she assumed office, noting she has visited over 80 countries.

Controversy has intensified due to Krivolucka’s past relationship with Roman Jeglič, a former high-ranking official in the Slovenian intelligence service (VIS). Records indicate the pair shared an address in Krasnoyarsk, Russia, in 2009. While the Slovenian intelligence agency, SOVA, stated that Krivolucka passed security checks during her 2016 citizenship application, political figures have called for investigations into potential ties to Russian intelligence networks. The President's office has firmly denied any collaboration with Russian espionage.