# Orthodox Church legal and political controversies

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/orthodox-church-legal-and-political-controversies
> Updated: 2026-10-28T19:53:06.000Z. Sources: 13. Developments: 2.

In Croatia, the Parliament has raised questions regarding the legality of the Serbian Orthodox Church’s operations. The debate focuses on a 2002 ‘Agreement of Common Interest’ signed by former Prime Minister Ivica Račan, which critics argue was made with a non-existent entity. Prime Minister Andrej Plenković has committed to investigating the validity of this document and the distinction between the Belgrade-headquartered church and a potential national Croatian Orthodox Church.

In Slovenia, National Assembly President Zoran Stevanović is facing allegations of abusing his office. Leaked footage reportedly shows Stevanović stating he was “damn proud” that his position helped secure a donor for land intended for an Orthodox church in Kranj. The land, valued between €400,000 and €600,000, is currently designated as a cemetery. While Stevanović maintains his actions were intended to help people, former anti-corruption officials have called for police and prosecutorial investigations.

## Claims

- Zoran Stevanović is the President of the National Assembly of Slovenia. (corroborated by 10 sources)
- Stevanović claimed his official function helped him secure a donor for land to build an Orthodox church in Kranj. (corroborated by 10 sources)
- The donor for the land purchase is Mladen Milanović, owner of MG Mind. (corroborated by 8 sources)
- The land's estimated value is between €400,000 and €600,000. (corroborated by 6 sources)
- The land is currently designated as a cemetery in the municipal spatial plan. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- Kranj Mayor Matjaž Rakovec suggested the land use could be changed via a fast-track procedure. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- Boštjan Penko stated that the President of the National Assembly cannot act as a real estate agent. (single source)
- Boštjan Penko called for police and prosecution to investigate the situation. (single source)

## Timeline

### 2026-10-28: Zoran Stevanović faces scrutiny over land deal for Orthodox church

Slovenian National Assembly President Zoran Stevanović is under scrutiny after claiming his official role helped secure a donor for an Orthodox church land purchase in Kranj.

13 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/zoran-stevanovi-accused-of-using-parliamentary-role-to-secure-church-donor

### 2026-10-01: Croatian Parliament questions legality of Serbian Orthodox Church operations

Croatian lawmakers are questioning the legality of the Serbian Orthodox Church's status in Croatia, focusing on a disputed 2002 agreement signed by former PM Ivica Račan.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/croatian-parliament-questions-legality-of-serbian-orthodox-church-operations

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Cite as: Orthodox Church legal and political controversies. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/orthodox-church-legal-and-political-controversies