News roundup - Friday, 26 May, until 3pm

Reports: Top court allows new RTV Slovenija governing body to form

LJUBLJANA - The Constitutional Court has reportedly revoked its decision to stay key parts of the amended RTV Slovenija act, in effect allowing formation of the new council governing the public broadcaster, several media reported. According to reports by several media outlets, the decision was backed by four judges, one voted against, while two did not cast their vote. Two judges had earlier been recused from the case.

Slovenia freezes EUR 6m in Russian assets

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia has frozen EUR 6.3 million in Russian assets following the Russian attack on Ukraine, the newspaper Dnevnik reported. So far, this has not included real estate and movable property, the Foreign Ministry told the paper, as only financial assets have been frozen, which includes cash, monetary claims, securities and interest. EU member states have frozen over EUR 24 billion in Russian assets in total, and compared to this, Slovenia's share is small. But the European Commission is much more worried about certain other countries, EU Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders told Dnevnik.

Administrative Court throws out health insurance case

LJUBLJANA - The Administrative Court has thrown out a petition by the Generali insurance company challenging a government decision that capped the monthly premium of top-up health insurance. The court ruled that this government decree was not a document that could be challenged in an administrative dispute, the STA has learnt. Generali can still challenge the ruling. It is not the only insurer to have lodged such a petition, since Vzajemna, one of the two other insurers providing top-up health insurance, did the same.

Key players in Kavač Clan case under police protection

LJUBLJANA - The judge presiding the trial against the Slovenian cell of the Kavač Clan has been under police protection since early May, reported the newspaper Večer. Moreover, several investigators from the case have been under police protection for a while, as well as the two main suspects, the Kadivec brothers, who are in custody. The Ljubljana District Court did not explain why the judge was put under police protection, but past instances of police protection for judges suggest he might have received threats.

Salus chairman reportedly extorted by former supplier

LJUBLJANA - The police have filed a criminal complaint against a person suspected of extorting Žiga Hieng, the chairman of the medicication wholesaler Salus, reported news portal Necenzurirano. According to unofficial information, the suspect is the owner and representative of one of the company's former suppliers. In late April, Hieng was allegedly assaulted and extorted in front of his home by a group of unknown persons. The suspect was allegedly present at the assault and was recognised by Hieng.

Food delivery couriers stage second work stoppage

LJUBLJANA - Food delivery couriers working for Wolt and Glovo staged a work stoppage from 11am to 2pm. This is the second such strike after the two companies refused to enter talks on a collective bargaining agreement. If the companies do not respond, they will step up industrial action activities, said the Trade Union of Food Delivery Couriers and Mladi Plus, a youth trade union under whose auspices the couriers' union was established.

Exhibition on local Jewish history opens at Maribor Synagogue

MARIBOR - Marking the end of Never Forget, an international project, the Maribor Synagogue opened an exhibition documenting the history and tragic fate of Jews in the Prekmurje and Međimurje regions. The exhibition, dubbed The Story of Two Transports, The Međimurje and Prekmurje Jews during the Holocaust, tells the long history of the Jewish communities in the Croatian and Slovenian regions, their contributions to the development of cities and the tragic fate that befell them during the Holocaust.

Opera returns to Maribor city park

MARIBOR - The eighth Maribor Night of the Opera will take place tonight in the city park, where the symphony orchestra, the opera choir and soloists from the SNG Maribor theatre will perform under the guidance of conductor Simon Krečič. The concert, which is admission free, will focus on Neapolitan songs, featuring pieces by Gaetano Donizetti, Radovan Gobec, Antonin Dvorak and Gioacchini Rossini, among others.