STA, 23 February 2022 - The Kranj Local Court has issued convictions for five men involved in a Covid-19 vaccination fraud where one of them got vaccinated on behalf of the other four. The verdicts are not yet final, the daily Delo reported on Tuesday. One of the defendants was given a sentence of ten months in prison, while the other four were fined.

In addition to the prison sentence for the man who had received jabs for the other four, the court imposed a fine of EUR 2,550 on two and a fine of EUR 1,360 on the remaining two.

The Kranj Health Centre told Delo that it was tragic that a man whose plight had been exploited by others was sentenced to imprisonment, whereas the others received only a fine.

Last December, the police charged the five men from the Gorenjska region and Ljubljana area for vaccination fraud. The man who took the shots for the others to get the Covid pass received seven doses of a coronavirus vaccine, together with the two doses for himself, and was caught attempting to get the eight shot.

Since the man received a small payment for this, the police believe that the four men exploited his plight and personal circumstances to their own advantage and induced him to commit the offence despite the possible consequences to his health.

Radio Slovenija reported at the time that the man who had got the jabs for other people was allegedly a drug addict.

Under the law, taking jabs in somebody else's name or presenting fake Covid certificates carries a sentence of up to three years in prison.

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This summary is provided by the STA:

Janša to attend EU summit before traveilling to Ukraine

BRUSSELS, Belgium - PM Janez Janša will attend an emergency EU summit on Ukraine in Brussels on Thursday evening and then travel on to Ukraine for a working visit aimed at supporting the country as it faces the threat of Russian invasion, as part of which he is to meet his counterpart Denys Shmyhal and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, while Slovenia will also deliver material aid to Ukraine. The EU summit and Janša's Ukraine visit come after Russia recognised independence of the rebel-held east Ukrainian regions of Donetsk and Luhansk with President Vladimir Putin ordering troop deployment there. This comes aster Janša met heads of relevant institutions to assess foreign policy, security and cyber risks for Slovenia in the wake of Russia's latest steps.

Logar and Truss sign statement on strengthening relations

LONDON, UK -Foreign Minister Anže Logar met his British counterpart Elizabeth Truss in London on Wednesday to sign a declaration of intent to strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries. Logar also met the president of the 26th UN Climate Change Conference, Alok Sharma, the Slovenian Foreign Ministry said. Ministers Logar and UK Foreign Secretary Truss stressed that Slovenia and the United Kingdom are partners and allies, sharing common values and similar interests on many issues and policies.

Foreign Ministry summons Russian ambassador over Ukraine

LJUBLJANA - The Foreign Ministry said it had summoned Russian Ambassador Timur Eyvazov over Russia's recognition of independence of the eastern Ukrainian regions Donetsk and Luhansk. Bogdan Batič, deputy political director at the ministry, informed the ambassador of Slovenia's resolute opposition to Russia's actions along the Ukrainian border, especially the unilateral recognition of independence of the two Ukrainian regions. The ministry said this was a grave violation of international law and of the obligations that Russia had assumed with a number of agreements, including the Minsk agreements.

Tonin talks to CNN about risk for W Balkans in Ukraine crisis

LJUBLJANA - Defence Minister Matej Tonin discussed Russia's actions in Ukraine in an interview with the CNN on Tuesday, underscoring that unity was the Western allies' strongest tool. He warned that at the moment when all eyes are on Ukraine something bad could happen in the Western Balkans, in particular Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Unofficial report: Gen Energija boss Novšak dismissed

LJUBLJANA - The supervisory board of Gen Energija, the company managing the Slovenian half of the NEK nuclear power station, dismissed the company's long-serving director general Martin Novšak, while citing no reasons for the move, according to several unofficial media reports. As Necenzurirano portal reports, Novšak was dismissed by the representatives of the ruling coalition on the supervisory board. He is to be replaced by Blaž Košorok, an Infrastructure Ministry state secretary, who comes from the ruling SDS, and who is reportedly opposed by both certain people in the SDS and in the Posavje region, where NEK is located.

Slovenian, Italian ministers propose minority education task force

BOLOGNA, Italy - Slovenian Education Minister Simona Kustec and her Italian counterpart Patrizio Bianchi urged the formation of a task force for cooperation in minority eduction that would address open issues, as they met in Bologna. "This is an important step forward because we will jointly address the open issues to resolve them as they emerge," Kustec was quoted by the Education Ministry as saying. The minister also labelled it as a sign of excellent bilateral cooperation.

Report: Radio City gets Hungarian owner

MARIBOR/BUDAPEST, Hungary - The Maribor-based radio station Radio City has been acquired by companies Media Moment and Radio Factory, owned by Hungarian Gabor Deak, the newspaper Večer reports, quoting Hungarian web portal Medial. It says Deak is linked to the circles of Prime Minister Viktor Orban.

Watchdog finds integrity breach by Počivalšek in ventilator deal

LJUBLJANA - The anti-graft watchdog has found breach of integrity by Economy Minister Zdravko Počivalšek, noting he interfered in the work of the Commodity Reserves Agency in relation to a purchase of ventilators from the supplier Geneplanet. This was established during investigations into PPE procurement during the first Covid wave. Počivalšek dismissed the watchdog's findings, saying his aim had only been to ensure the fastest possible delivery of emergency medical supplies.

Left proposes moratorium on sale of bad bank's assets

LJUBLJANA - The opposition Left proposed legislative changes that would provide for a moratorium on the sale of all tourism and housing facilities owned by the Bank Assets Management Company (BAMC), and for these assets to pass into the ownership of the state assets custodian, Slovenian Sovereign Holding (SSH). At the same time, the party also proposed that the state-owned bad bank be liquidated early and all its assets transferred to SSH and the Housing Fund.

Just over 2,370 new coronavirus cases confirmed as drop continues

LJUBLJANA - The number of new coronavirus cases in Slovenia on Tuesday stood at 2,372, and although it was up by 107 from yesterday, the steady drop continues as the number of new cases was down by 50% week-on-week. There are currently 496 Covid patients in hospitals, down 15 from yesterday, including 98 in intensive care, two more than the day before, the government said on Twitter. Ten more patients with Covid have died.

Illegal migration more than doubles in January y/y

LJUBLJANA - The police dealt with 693 instances of illegal migration in the first month of 2022 alone, more than double the figure recorded in January last year. By far the largest number of illegal migrants caught last month were Afghans, which is to be expected given the situation in the country, the police said. Afghan nationals accounted for almost half of all the migrants caught crossing the border illegally in January.

TPV Automotive recruiting more staff this year

NOVO MESTO - TPV Automotive, a Novo Mesto-based automotive supplier, announced it was recruiting more staff at all its plants. By the end of the year, they will have recruited a significant number of new employees, with the new hires being made in several towns and villages in eastern and south-eastern Slovenia. New jobs at TPV Automotive have opened up due to the development of breakthrough projects, said the company in a press release. In addition to production workers, they are also looking for highly skilled professionals from a wide range of fields, including engineering, IT, robotics and logistics.

Five vaccine cheaters get convicted, says report

LJUBLJANA - The Kranj Local Court has issued convictions for five men involved in a Covid-19 vaccination fraud where one of them got vaccinated on behalf of the other four. The verdicts are not yet final, the daily Delo reported on Tuesday. One of the defendants was given a sentence of ten months in prison, while the other four were fined.

Ljubljana's architectural gems showcased on French stamps

PARIS, France - The French post has issued a series of four stamps depicting Ljubljana's architectural landmarks. The stamps show the Triple Bridge, St. Nicholas Cathedral, Ljubljana Castle and Tivoli Park. The French post has thus underlined the charm of the Slovenian capital, the Slovenian Embassy in France said on Twitter, adding that Ljubljana landmarks designed by architect Jože Plečnik (1872-1957), including some of those showcased on the stamps, are inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

STA, 23 February 2022 - Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Janša will be visiting Ukraine on Thursday and Friday for meetings with his counterpart Denys Shmyhal and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, his office has announced.

Janša first announced his upcoming visit to Kyiv after speaking with Shmyhal on the phone earlier this month.

The visit aims for Slovenia to support Ukraine's European and Euro-Atlantic perspective and to reaffirm Slovenia's commitment to Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty within its internationally recognised borders, the PM's office said.

It added that the visit would also be an opportunity to enhance dialogue and deepen relations between the two countries.

"Slovenia supports territorial integrity and independence of Ukraine and advocates de-escalation and peaceful resolution of the conflict in the east of the country. It also supports Ukraine's efforts to adopt the standards of Euro-Atlantic integrations, and calls for progress in particular in the fight against corruption, the rule of law and independence of the judiciary," reads the release.

The office noted the positive dynamics in bilateral trade, identifying the potential to enhance cooperation in the pharmaceutical industry, agriculture, digitalisation, energy efficiency and environmental solutions.

Data from the site www.izvoznookno.si, operated by the investment promotion agency SPIRIT, shows the volume of goods trade between Slovenia and Ukraine in the first eleven months of 2021 was close to EUR 283 million, of which EUR 219 million was Slovenia's exports. In the whole of 2020 trade amounted to EUR 260 million.

Almost half of Slovenia's exports to Ukraine last year was pharmaceutical products. The bulk of imports were wood, wooden products and charcoal.

The prime minister's office said the visit would also be an opportunity to review cooperation in development and humanitarian aid. On the occasion Slovenia will deliver material aid to the country.

The government on Monday approved a shipment of EUR 163,000 worth of sleeping bags, rubber boots, diesel generators, gloves and face masks to Ukraine in response to the country's appeal for help.

The situation in the country is tense after Russia on Monday recognised the independence of the self-styled republics of Donetsk and Luhansk in the east of the country. There are concerns about the possibility of a broader Russian invasion on Ukraine.

Condemning Russia's recognition of the two separatist regions, Janša said the EU should offer Ukraine the prospect of full membership.

"The recognition of the two separatist territories in Ukraine is a blatant violation of international law, the Budapest and Minsk agreements. Slovenia condemns this illegal move. The EU has to offer Ukraine full membership perspective," Janša said on his Twitter profile in the wake of Russia's move.

Several Western officials visited Kyiv in recent weeks to support Ukraine and a diplomatic solution to the crisis, including French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. The pair have also visited Moscow. Foreign ministers of the Baltic countries are expected in Kyiv on Thursday.

STA, 22 February 2022 - The Defence Ministry plans to renovate several military barracks. The costs of renovation of the Edvard Peperko Barracks in Ljubljana and the General Rudolf Maister Barracks in Maribor have been estimated at EUR 130 million.

The renovation is to improve energy efficiency of the buildings, its functionality and the working conditions.

New logistic capacities of the warehouses are planned along with new workshops and garages and training infrastructure.

The project will be funded under the act on the provision of funds for investments in the Slovenian Armed Forces in the 2021-2026 period, which was passed in 2020. The money will also be secured from EU cohesion funds.

According to director general of the logistics directorate at the ministry, Uroš Korošec, the Ljubljana barracks have not been renovated since the 1970, when they were built.

At the Ljubljana barracks, energy efficiency improvement work and interior renovation will be conducted, three new garages will be built along with new rooms for the command, two additional accommodation facilities, and solar power plants. The sewage system will be renovated.

The project is estimated at some EUR 70 million and the work is to be completed by October 2023.

In Maribor, the renovation of the General Rudolf Maister barracks will include new command and accommodation facilities and the construction of new warehouses, energy facilities and a gym.

The project will cost some EUR 60 million and is to be concluded in 2024 and 2025. The new facilities are to be built in 2025 and 2026.

According to Korošec, works will be simultaneously conducted at the barracks in Bohinjska Bela and Brnik. Recently, the Bač training grounds was renovated for about EUR 4.1 million.

Korošec said the Slovenian army would also have permanent berths at the port in Koper as soon as the third pier is constructed.

STA, 22 February 2022 - Ljubljana Mayor Zoran Janković has taken issue with the ruling Democrats (SDS) noting in a series of posts about its achievements that Ljubljana has been assessed as the safest city in Europe, saying that he does not know what SDS president and PM Janez Janša has to do with it.

Addressing the press on Tuesday, Janković said that he was happy that Janša "finally realised that Ljubljana is the most beautiful city in the world", but that he did not know what Janša had to do with it.

The statement refers to the Slovenian capital being named at the beginning of the month as the best destination in Europe in 2022 as part of the European Best Destinations project.

"This is how travellers from all over the world voted," the Ljubljana Urban Municipality said on its website, noting that as many as 92% of all votes intended for Ljubljana had come from other countries.

On that occasion, the SDS published a picture of the Triple Bridge in Ljubljana on Instagram, accompanied with the visual identity that the party uses on pre-election posters and a slogan.

Under the post, the SDS said: "More than half a million travellers from 182 countries voted for the best and safest European destinations in 2022. Our beautiful Ljubljana is in the first place!"

Janković took exception to this, wondering how the SDS could even imagine taking credit for Ljubljana being declared the safest city.

He noted the role of the ruling party in fencing off the parliament building during anti-government protests and using tear gas and water cannon on people, also in Tivoli Park.

Janković said that "Janša is afraid of the election, as he has no better ideas than copying the ideas of the Ljubljana municipality", in reference to the SDS allegedly appropriating a slogan six years ago.

He noted that when he had taken office as mayor during the first Janša government, Ljubljana had been stripped of EUR 57 million in budget funds a year, or EUR 800 million in the 15 years of his mayorship. "But the election will show the true result."

Check the date at the top of the page, and you can find all the "morning headlines" stories here. You can also follow us on Facebook and get all the news in your feed.

This summary is provided by the STA:

Slovenia condemns Russia's actions in Ukraine

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia's officials unanimously condemned Russia's recognition of the separatist regions of Donetsk and Luhansk in eastern Ukraine as blatant violation of international law. Prime Minister Janez Janša called for the EU to offer Ukraine the prospect of full membership and Defence Minister Matej Tonin announced the government's top officials agreed Slovenia was ready to support the country's membership of the EU and enhance its troops' presence in eastern NATO member states. President Borut Pahor met Janša to agree that the recognition was a severe violation of international law and serious encroachment on the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine. FM Anže Logar said "now we're left with only a set of bad options".

Pahor to apologise to the erased

LJUBLJANA - President Borut Pahor will offer a formal apology to the 25,671 people who were illegally erased from Slovenia's register of permanent residents on 26 February 1992 on Friday, the eve of the 30th anniversary of the erasure. The president's decision has been welcomed by Amnesty International (AI) Slovenia and the Civil Society of Erased Activists. "Since the founding of our association, an apology by the state has been among our priorities," said the society's president Irfan Beširević.

Parliament approves energy crisis relief package

LJUBLJANA - The National Assembly overwhelmingly approved the government package to mitigate the impact of high energy prices, which stipulates that legal entities or individuals with a business registered in Slovenia by 1 December 2021 whose energy costs will increase by more than 40% in 2022 compared to 2021 will be eligible for government aid. The primary focus is on aid for households and citizens - the package provides for a one-off payment for some 710,000 Slovenians, equalises the rights of all household consumers, and introduces a three-month exemption from payment of contributions and network charges.

Govt sending aid to Ukraine and Madagascar

LJUBLJANA - The government approved on Monday material aid for Ukraine and Madagascar as well as a donation of Covid-19 vaccines to Namibia and COVAX. Through the EU civil protection mechanism Slovenia will send EUR 163,000 worth of sleeping bags, rubber boots, diesel generators, gloves and face masks to Ukraine in response to the country's appeal for aid. Slovenia will also send EUR 25,000 worth of aid to help Madagascar after being hit by the tropical cyclone Batsiral.

Analysts say Russia looking at annexing separatist regions

LJUBLJANA - After Russia recognised the separatist regions of Donetsk and Luhansk in eastern Ukraine as independent, two analysts said that the mostly likely scenario to follow is the annexation of both regions based on the model of Crimea, while they assessed that the possibility of all-out war is unlikely. They do not expect any European country to decide to deploy troops to Ukraine in the event of a military conflict between Ukraine and Russia.

Ljubljana, Maribor military barracks to be renovated for EUR 130m

LJUBLJANA - The Defence Ministry announced plans to renovate several military barracks, with the cost of renovation of the Edvard Peperko Barracks in Ljubljana and the General Rudolf Maister Barracks in Maribor estimated at EUR 130 million. The aim is to improve energy efficiency of the buildings, their functionality and working conditions. New logistic capacities of warehouses are also planned along with new workshops and garages and training infrastructure. Part of funds will come from EU cohesion funds.

MPs endorse bill to step up work after pension age

LJUBLJANA - MPs endorsed a government-sponsored act that temporarily increases the scope of temporary or casual work available for pensioners to help the labour market recover in the wake of Covid-19 in what the government says will help mitigate labour shortages. It drafted the act in the light of a rapid increase in the number of coronavirus infections in previous months, which resulted in large-scale staff shortages due to sick leave or quarantine. The opposition MPs said the solution comes too late.

Parliament passes changes to border control act

LJUBLJANA - The National Assemnly endorsed changes to the act on state border control that bring border municipalities EUR 2.5 million in assistance to cover the costs they incur as a result of enhanced border patrolling by police and soldiers to prevent illegal migration. Eligible costs include those resulting from the renovation and maintenance of municipal roads and public paths that are subject to additional pressure due to increased surveillance of the national border.

Fracking amendments pass first reading in parliament

LJUBLJANA - The government-sponsored amendments to the mining act, under which low-volume hydraulic fracturing would be allowed but high-volume fracking banned, passed the first reading in parliament. The Infrastructure Ministry has announced that an overall ban on fracking is in the works, but the opposition is mistrustful of this and plans to do it itself. The latest debate on fracking comes after five fruitless attempts by the opposition to ban fracking in Slovenia altogether.

Hojs stresses importance of unified approach to migrations

VIENNA, Austria - Interior Minister Aleš Hojs took part in a ministerial conference on migrations, stressing that "effective management of migration flows requires a unified approach and enhanced cooperation with regional partners". "The effective and rapid return of persons who have not applied for or are not eligible for international protection is also an integral part of a successful and fair migration policy," said Hojs. He advocated the establishment of a sustainable system at the regional level, based on solidarity and mutual assistance, the Interior Ministry said.

Hungarian MP fails in appeal over dual-office breach

LJUBLJANA - Ferenc Horvath, the MP for the Hungarian minority, will have to pay a EUR 1,000 fine after a district and a higher court upheld the anti-graft watchdog's view that he is in breach of the incompatibility of dual offices as he also serves as the head of a minority organisation. Horvath told the STA he would use all legal means at his disposal to prove he is right, if necessary take the matter to "European court".

New Covid cases down almost 70% in a week

LJUBLJANA - The number of new coronavirus cases in Slovenia dropped from over 7,000 to over 2,000 in a week, as a total of 2,265 positive cases were confirmed on Monday. Another 14 people with Covid-19 died, as hospitalisations decreased somewhat, with 96 treated for Covid in intensive care. The 7-day average of new daily cases dropped by 689 to 3,330 and the 14-day notification rate per 100,000 was down by 421 to 3,355, official data shows.

MPs change investment promotion act again

LJUBLJANA - The National Assembly unanimously passed changes to the investment promotion act that aim to raise the productivity of the Slovenian economy and the standard of living. According to Economy Ministry State Secretary Simon Zajc, the latest changes to the act that was last changed in mid-December 2021 pursue three goals - to facilitate companies' adjustment to the demands of the digital and green transition, promote competitiveness and encourage investment into research, development and innovation.

Logar calls for cooperation between EU and Indo-Pacific

PARIS - Foreign Minister Anže Logar attended the first ministerial forum on cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region organised by the French EU presidency, noting the importance of good and sustainable integration between Europe and the Indo-Pacific, and also held two bilateral meetings. In a debate on connectivity and digital issues, Logar noted the importance of quality and sustainable connectivity between Europe and the Indo-Pacific region, taking into account the global perspective and situation.

Car maker Revoz to cut production month early

NOVO MESTO - Revoz, the Slovenian subsidiary of Renault that cut production to one and a half shifts last November and then announced further cuts in January for April, will move to the announced single shift a month early. As supply problems in the global semiconductor market continue, Revoz will switch to single shift working as early as Monday, 28 February. The management said that all five working days of last week were actually without work and there are no signs of the situation improving.

Business sentiment remains upbeat

LJUBLJANA - Business sentiment in Slovenia keeps improving with the latest data from the Statistics Office showing the respective indicator rising by 1.2 percentage points in a month and by 10.1 points in a year to hit 6.8 percentage points in February. Year-on-year, sentiment improved most in services (+5.5 points), followed by manufacturing (+2.2 points), retail sales (+1.6 points) and construction (+0.9 points).

Parliament passes 2022-2029 culture programme resolution

LJUBLJANA - The parliament passed the resolution on the 2022-2029 national culture programme which, according to the government, is to establish Slovenian culture as an important social factor and as a value that enables creative potential, while at the same time developing respect for the achievements of the Slovenian nation. The coalition expressed its support for the strategic document, which comes after the last of its kind in 2017, while the centre-left opposition was against it, saying it does not offer solutions to address the status quo in this field.

Preliminary report on hot air balloon accident shows sudden wind change

LJUBLJANA - A preliminary report of an investigation into a hot air balloon accident that happened in the Ljubljana Marshes in January and in which four persons, one Slovenian and three Belgian citizens, were injured shows that the forced landing was a result of a sudden wind change. According to the report, enhanced westerly to south-westerly winds blew in the area at the time of the accident, reaching the average speed of 40 kilometres per hour and over 50 km/h at the altitudes around 500 metres.

Flamenco festival starts at Cankarjev Dom

LJUBLJANA - The third biennial international festival called Bi Flamenko is starting in Cankarjev Dom in Ljubljana tonight with a screening of the documentary film The Flamenco Clan - Herencia flamenca (2005) by Michael Meert, presenting the history and heritage of flamenco dancing. Pepe Habichuela, leader of the Carmona flamenco clan, will be presented through the film, as well as a concert and a debate after the screening. He will be joined by his nephew Josemi on guitar and percussionist Bandolero.

STA, 22 February 2022 - Slovenian members of the European parliament have condemned Russia's recognition of the separatist regions of Donetsk and Luhansk in eastern Ukraine as independent, which they see as a violation of Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty and a threat to peace.

"What many of us feared has now happened. This is a violation of international agreements by Putin and a threat to world peace. I therefore condemn Russian aggression," MEP Franc Bogovič (EPP/SLS) wrote on Twitter.

"The violation of the sovereignty of Ukrainian territory will unfortunately shatter the fragile peace seen in Ukraine over the past couple of years," he added as he shared PM Janez Janša's tweet, which also condemned Russia's actions.

MEP Ljudmila Novak (EPP/NSi) also saw the prospect of violation of Ukraine's territorial integrity as unacceptable. "The European Parliament firmly rejects any attempts to weaken or undermine the principles of security in Europe," she tweeted.

MEP Romana Tomc (EPP/SDS) added that the response to what is happening in Ukraine will show "whether the EU is capable of doing more than passing empty resolutions and awarding prizes to Russian dissidents. Time is running out".

Her party colleague Milan Zver noted that Russia "severely violates international law and territorial integrity of Ukraine" and added that the "EU must react in unison and quickly with strict and targeted sanctions against Russia."

In the opinion of MEP Milan Brglez (S&D/SD), "the situation is too serious to point fingers, let alone weapons". The only possible response is for the EU to lead in a decisive manner with the aim of de-escalating the situation and reaffirming the principles of the Helsinki Final Act, he said.

Brglez's party colleague Tanja Fajon also warned that Russia's decision was "a violation of Ukraine's territorial integrity, a flagrant violation of international law and the Minsk agreements".

A joint response was issued by Klemen Grošelj and Irena Joveva (Renew/LMŠ), who expressed their expectations that the EU will adopt "an appropriate and credible set of joint measures against Russia, including sanctions".

However, they hope that all diplomatic means have not yet been exhausted. "We call on the EU to stand united and to prepare for a long-term solution to the biggest security crisis in Europe since the end of WWII, which will affect us all," they wrote.

The reactions from the European Parliament followed Monday's announcements by Russian President Vladimir Putin, who recognised Donetsk and Luhansk as independent entities and ordered the deployment of the Russian army to the regions "to ensure peace".

STA, 22 February 2022 - 

Prime Minister Janez Janša and the Foreign Ministry condemned Russia's recognition of the separatist regions of Donetsk and Luhansk in eastern Ukraine as independent entities. Janša called for the EU to offer Ukraine the prospect of full membership. Slovenia is also ready to support the country's membership of the EU.

"The recognition of the two separatist territories in Ukraine is a blatant violation of international law, the Budapest and Minsk agreements. Slovenia condemns this illegal move. The EU has to offer Ukraine full membership perspective," Janša tweeted in the night.

The Foreign Ministry followed up with a tweet strongly condemning the move by Russian President Vladimir Putin and adding: "These hostile measures are flagrant violation of international law & obligations contained in Minsk agreements & will not remain without consequences."

The ministry reiterated Slovenia's "unwavering support" for Ukraine's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders. It commended the Ukrainian government's leadership in the face of "this aggression, entirely & unilaterally escalated by Russia".

Meanwhile, a post on the Defence Ministry's Twitter profile said Minister Matej Tonin had a conference call with PM Janša, Foreign Minister Anže Logar and Economy Minister Zdravko Počivalšek to exchange views on the situation and align Slovenia's position on the crisis.

"Slovenia is willing to support Ukraine's membership of the EU and enhance Slovenian troops' presence in eastern NATO member states," the ministry tweeted.

Russian President Vladimir Putin recognised the two breakaway regions as independent "people's republics" last night, ordering deployment of Russian troops there to "maintain peace". He also ordered for the Russian Foreign Ministry to establish diplomatic relations with the two regions, which are part of Ukraine under international law.

Most of the international community condemned the Russian president's move and the UN Security Council has met to discuss the matter. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called on the international community to support his country.

STA, 21 February 2022 - Virtually all Covid-19 restrictions are being lifted in Slovenia on Monday except for the wearing of masks and hand sanitising indoors. Proof of recovery, vaccination or negative test (PCT) will only be required in hospitals, care homes and prisons.

Under the decisions taken by the government on Saturday, there will no longer be a cap on gatherings or the number of people allowed inside shops, hospitality and other services establishments.

Meanwhile, cultural institutions await more detailed instructions by the government to ascertain whether a distance of 1.5 meters will still have to be heeded at cultural events.

Also scrapped are restrictions on the opening hours of hospitality establishments, and night clubs can reopen. Unseated guests will still be required to wear face masks indoors and hand sanitising remains in force like in other activities subject to easing.

At outdoor public events, masks are recommended when a distance of 1.5 meters cannot be maintained.

The Covid pass or PCT requirement remains mandatory for staff and service users at hospitals and those undergoing certain procedures such as endoscopy or oral surgery, but it is not mandatory at health centres. It also remains in place at social care institutions, prisons and other correctional facilities, except for those aged up to 15.

Students will no longer need to self test at schools, but face masks remain obligatory under the same conditions as so far.

Free self-tests and rapid antigen tests are no longer available, except in certain cases. The government will pay for the costs of tests in activities where testing is still compulsory.

Rapid antigen testing remains free of charge for those who get a positive self-test result, those with Covid-19 symptoms and those who would like to end self-isolation early after a seven-day period.

Since Saturday, contacts of infected persons are no longer required to quarantine, but those who test positive still need to self-isolate.

The infected are also urged to notify those with whom they have been in close contact within 48 hours before testing positive of the risk of infection.

Their contacts are advised to take a test or self-test 7 days after the last risk contact and to avoid unnecessary contacts with other people for 14 days since being in contact with the infected person.

Since Saturday, the Covid pass is no longer required to enter Slovenia.

The near universal PCT requirement has been in force since 15 September last year with further restrictions such as the curfew on bars and restaurants imposed in early November.

Check the date at the top of the page, and you can find all the "morning headlines" stories here. You can also follow us on Facebook and get all the news in your feed.

This summary is provided by the STA:

Most Covid containment measures lifted

LJUBLJANA - Virtually all Covid-19 restrictions were lifted in Slovenia today except for the wearing of masks and hand sanitising indoors. Proof of recovery, vaccination or negative test (PCT) will only be required in hospitals, care homes and prisons. Under decisions taken by the government on Saturday, there are no more caps on gatherings or numbers allowed inside shops, hospitality or other services establishments, and no restrictions to opening hours.

Govt approves SSH capital increase to exercise pre-emptive right in Sava sale

LJUBLJANA/LENDAVA - The government decided in a correspondence meeting to increase the capital of Slovenia's custodian of state assets, the Slovenian Sovereign Holding (SSH), by a sum that will allow it to exercise its pre-emptive right to purchase private fund York's share in Slovenian tourism company Sava. The SSH is expected to endorse this course of action on Friday, and the KAD fund already announced it will go down this route as well. The centre-left opposition and Economy Minister Zdravko Počivalšek welcomed the government's decision, but the former remained sceptical.

Janša, Orban see minorities as a bridge for cooperation

LENDAVA - Slovenian and Hungarian PMs Janez Janša and Viktor Orban stressed as they signed an agreement on cooperation to develop the border areas populated by the countries' respective minorities in Lendava that the minorities were a "bridge for cooperation between two friendly countries" and economic ties between them brought double benefit. In the next five years, EUR 5 million will be allocated under the agreement for the development of the minorities on both sides of the border.

MPs vote to ban referendum on OCCAR deal

LJUBLJANA - The National Assembly voted 43 to 30 to endorse the government proposal not to allow a referendum on a law ratifying the agreement with the Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation (OCCAR). The opposition Left, which initiated the referendum bid, is now planning to appeal to the Constitutional Court. The debate saw the coalition and the centre-left opposition disagree over whether the agreement was an international treaty or not, and hence may not be subjected to referendum or may be.

FM Logar remains optimistic over Ukraine talks

BRUSSELS, Belgium - FM Anže Logar said after a meeting of EU foreign ministers that even though there were no positive developments regarding the Ukraine crisis, some talks had been announced. He remains optimistic that diplomatic reason will prevail in the end, pointing out that the planned sanctions would drastically cut into Russia's economy. The EU, first and foremost, still sees dialogue as the only right way to resolve the security threats that have emerged, the minister noted, adding the West would always support Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty.

EU ministers talk transition to sustainable food systems

BRUSSELS, Belgium - Agriculture Ministry State Secretary Aleš Irgolič discussed views on efforts to improve coordination between EU policies and initiatives for the transition to sustainable food systems as he took part in a meeting of EU agriculture ministers in Brussels. Slovenia agrees that better coordination is necessary for the transition, the ministry said. The country believes that to move towards sustainable food systems, the EU must continue to set high standards in various areas.

Just over 2,000 coronavirus cases on Sunday

LJUBLJANA - The coronavirus epidemic in Slovenia keeps receding with 2,008 new cases recorded on Sunday, roughly 45% fewer than a week ago. Hospitalisations increased somewhat with 526 patients treated for Covid-19 as their main condition is hospitals, including 103 in intensive care. For the second day running, the government reported 19 deaths among patients who had contracted Covid, which brings the death toll since the start of the pandemic almost two years ago to 6,712.

Janša cleared over Mauritius meetings

LJUBLJANA - The Commission for the Prevention of Corruption cleared Prime Minister Janez Janša over his socialising with a well-known lobbyist and a businessman while holidaying on the island of Mauritius when he was still an opposition leader. The commission closed the case after it had found no breach of anti-graft legislation in Janša's socialising with lobbyist Božo Dimnik and businessman Andrej Marčič. Nor did it establish violations in public contracting in the case of Marčič's IT company.

Jože Hebar appointed full-fledged chairman of Elektro Maribor

MARIBOR - The supervisory board of the electricity distributor Elektro Maribor appointed acting chairman Jože Hebar for a full-fledged term at an emergency meeting. Hebar will be given the opportunity to lead the company into a green and energy-efficient future, the board said. Hebar was appointed acting chairman at Elektro Maribor in November after the dismissal of Boris Sovič, who had led the company for nine years.

Survey: Companies little informed about whistleblower protection rules

LJUBLJANA - A survey by EY Slovenija shows that Slovenian companies are not sufficiently acquainted with the demands of the new EU regulation on legal protection of whistleblowers and are not ready for its implementation. The regulation came into force in December 2021, but is yet to be made into law in Slovenia. The survey found only 42% of companies employing more than 250 people are fully prepared to put new rules into practice and one in four companies is not ready.

President decorates three musicians

LJUBLJANA - President Borut Pahor honoured mezzo-soprano Bernarda Fink Inzko, bass-baritone Marko Fink, and conductor Jože Trošt with state decorations. Fink Inzko and Fink, who have been active in both opera and concerts, received the Silver Orders of Merit for extraordinary services in music and their commitment to the Slovenian songs. Composer Trošt, long-term music head of the Ljubljana cathedral and conductor of several choirs, was honoured with the Order of Merit.

NBA player Goran Dragić signs with Brooklyn Nets

NEW YORK, US - Goran Dragić, widely regarded as one of Slovenia's best basketball players ever, has signed a new contract until the end of this season and will move to the Brooklyn Nets, said the BDA Sports International management agency. At the age of 35, this will be Dragić's fifth team in the NBA and another chance to win an NBA title. The speculations of him potentially joining his compatriot Luka Dončić, an NBA star, at the Dallas Mavericks have thus failed to materialise.