Ljubljana related
STA, 2 July 2019 - The Maribor judge who was brutally assaulted near her home in mid-June gave her first statement after the attack. She told the STA through her daughter that she had not been attacked by her spouse, who is the chief suspect in the case.
Maribor District Court judge Daniela Ružič has already filed a criminal complaint against an unknown perpetrator.
Ružič, who is still in hospital, said she would like all the false reports and libel about her family to stop.
She said her spouse had never been physically violent, but "compassionate and a loving father".
She also said she had turned to him for help after the attack. She stressed she did not feel threatened by him, so there was no need for a restraining order.
Ružič was attacked in the wee hours on Sunday, 16 June, in front of her house in the vicinity of Maribor.
She was severely injured with an object, and is still being treated at the UKC Maribor hospital.
The police apprehended her spouse a few days later, but released him after questioning. They also proposed a restraining order, but the investigating judge reportedly decided against it.
The police think the motive for the attack was Ružič's intention to get a divorce and claim her share of the joint assets.
The investigation of the attack, which drew strong condemnation from Ružič's peers and politicians, who perceived it as work-related, continues.
STA, 30 June 2019 - The first ever Pride Parade was held in Slovenia's second largest city Maribor on Saturday, with some 800 people peacefully parading the city streets to spread a message of love, equality and inclusion, according to the organisers.
As Marja Guček of the Maribor Youth Culture Centre told the STA, the attendance exceeded all expectations and the event concluded without any incidents.
The participants were addressed by Maribor Mayor Saša Arsenovič, British Ambassador Sophie Honey, Andra Camelia Cordos of the Romanian organisation Go Free, and Simona Muršec of the Ljubljana Pride Parade Association.
The speakers emphasised the importance of such events around the world in the light of the fight for equality of persons with different sexual orientations and for acceptance and inclusion of all.
Also expressing support for the first Pride Parade in Maribor was also expressed by the UEFA president, Slovenia's own Aleksander Čeferin, Köln Mayor Andreas Wolter and 19 organisations and companies from the city.
The parade was also attended by Susan K. Falatko, the new chargé d'affaires at the US Embassy in Slovenia, French Ambassador Florence Ferrari, British Council Slovenia director Dragan Barbutovski and numerous representatives of the Maribor city council.
All our LGBT+ stories can be found here
STA, 26 June 2019 - A police investigation into an assault on a Maribor District Court judge has shown the motive for the attack was personal although it initially seemed it was work-related since the judge has been responsible for several high-profile cases.
A man has been indicted in relation to the incident and according to unofficial information, he is judge Daniela Ružič's spouse.
The motive for the attack was personal, the head of the Maribor investigators, Andrej Kolbl, told the press on Wednesday.
Ružič was attacked in the wee hours on Sunday, 16 June, in front of her house in the vicinity of Maribor.
She was severely injured with an object, and is still being treated at the UKC Maribor hospital.
The police apprehended her spouse on Friday, but released him after questioning, yet they did propose a restraining order.
Commercial broadcaster POP TV meanwhile reported this evening that the investigating judge had decided against the restraining order, which the police confirmed for the STA, but would not comment on the decision.
The police think the motive for the attack was Ružič's intention to get a divorce and claim her share of the joint assets.
The investigation of the attack, which drew strong condemnation from Ružič's peers and politicians, who perceived it as work-related, continues.
STA, 22 June 2019 - Police investigating an attack on a Maribor District Court judge have apprehended the judge's spouse following a late-night search of the couple's house, Večer reported on Saturday.
The Maribor-based paper says it has unofficial information the man was apprehended in connection with the brutal attack that almost killed his spouse Daniela Ružić judge and is treated by police as attempted murder.
A police spokesman confirmed Sunday that a suspect had been apprehended but refused to disclose his identity or whether he is the only suspect.
"We searched the suspect's house and two vehicles yesterday looking for evidence or traces associated with the crime. We apprehended a suspect and police procedures continue today," Maribor Police District director Bojan Kitl told the press.
Ružić, a judge at the corporate crime department of the Maribor District Court, was badly beaten in front of her home last Sunday, in the small hours of the morning.
She was admitted to hospital in critical conditions but is apparently stable now.
The attack drew strong condemnation from her peers and from politicians, since it was believed it may have been connected with her work.
Kitl said that several possible avenues were being investigated "in relation with the judge's personal life and in connection with her work."
Maribor’s Festival Lent is one of the largest and oldest open-air festivals in Europe, and it returns to Slovenia’s second city for the 26th time this week bringing, music, art, culture, creativity, food and laughter to the medieval Lent district, the historic squares and streets of the Old Town, the city park and even on the floating main stage on the River Drava.
Note - all videos are from 2018
For ten days, from 20 to 29 June, visitors can enjoy a wealth of entertainment that resists easy summary, with live music from all genres, theatrical performances for young and old, DJ sets, a chess festival, sporting events, art exhibitions and workshops, a culinary programme, films, dance and much, much more, drawing performers and audiences from all over the world.
The full schedule can be seen here and is worth clicking around, as along with further details of each of the hundreds of participants you’ll find videos showing what to expect. You can also follow the programme on Facebook, while the organisers’ have selected their own highlights here if you’d like some more guidance.
In short, Festival Lent is one of the true highlights of the summer – and the year – in the Slovenian cultural calendar, with something for everyone on every day, making the 20 to 29 June (2019) the ideal time to visit Maribor.
STA, 16 June 2019 - A Maribor district judge was severely injured in an attack in the wee hours on Sunday in an incident that the police said were investigating as a suspected attempted murder.
Head of Maribor crime investigators, Andrej Kolbl, confirmed that the victim was Daniela Ružić, a judge at the corporate crime department of the Maribor District Court.
"Her condition is stable and not life threatening," Kolbl told reporters in Maribor after earlier reports described the judge's condition as critical.
He confirmed that the judge was ambushed and attacked by an unidentified attacker or attackers in front of her house in the vicinity of Maribor.
She was injured severely with an object, Kolbl said, but would not say what type of object it was, citing interests of the investigation.
The motive of the attack remains unclear. "The investigation is being conducted in several directions to establish the possible motive, which could be linked to the judge's work or her private life," said Kolbl.
He repeated the appeal to potential eyewitnesses or anyone that would have any information regarding the attack to come forward.
"The police are handling the attack on the judge very seriously," the chief inspector said, adding that inquiries were being conducted in cooperation with the District Court, National Forensic Laboratory and Institute of Forensic Medicine to find the perpetrators.
The police were notified of the attack at about 1.15am this morning. Police and paramedics arrived at the scene, as well as an investigating judge and state prosecutor.
After being given emergency aid, the judge was taken to the UKC Maribor hospital, where she is being treated.
Ružič has been responsible for several high-profile cases, including the damages suit brought by Bank Assets Management Bank against the former management of the bank Probanka.
She also presided over the case brought by Iskra Sistemi against the Maribor city for rescinding the contract for the infamous Maribor speed traps, and damages suits against Austria's power utility Verbund over the 2012 flood damage.
The brutal attack has been condemned in the strongest terms by the judiciary, the Justice Ministry and political officials, all of whom wished the judge a speedy recovery.
Supreme Court President Damijan Florjančič and President of the Maribor District Court issued a joint statement expressing shock and indignation at the "brutal attack at our colleague".
"We wonder whether this violent outburst may be a consequence of developments in recent years as disrespect of the judicial office and unwarranted verbal attacks against the judiciary have become commonplace," they said.
Constitutional Court President Rajko Knez said the outrageous attack called for a swift response by law enforcement authorities, and a clear message from political authorities that the judiciary cannot be intimidated and that such a development of society will not be tolerated.
"Attacks on judges are unacceptable from the aspect of the victim and her relatives, and from the aspect of society as a whole," said Knez, adding that the judiciary's role in society is underrated.
The Slovenian Judges' Association underscored that "physical violence was a grave attack on the rule of law and the judiciary's independence", warning that any verbal threats against judges should be taken seriously.
The Justice Ministry called for zero tolerance to any violence, either verbal or physical, and emphasized the importance of judges and other members of the judiciary in defending the rule of law.
"Judicial officials and staff are subject daily to risks and danger, which is why we seek to ensure all the appropriate conditions to perform their important functions", reads a release from the ministry.
"Appalling and unacceptable. The perpetrators deserve the harshest punishment! We cannot let judges be intimidated ... Law and justice are above force," tweeted National Council President Alojz Kovšca.
Foreign Minister Miro Cerar posted a tweet expressing shock and indignation at the attack, underscoring that the rule of law and independent judiciary are key to society's democracy and development.
Maribor Mayor Saša Arsenovič urged "sharp measures in response to criminal mafia rings in the city", pledging to continue unwavering in honouring his commitment to restore Maribor as a city of non-violence and tolerance.
The attack was also condemned by party officials, including the leader of the opposition Democrats (SDS), Janez Janša, representatives of the Social Democrats (SD) and New Slovenia (NSi).
Slovenian judges have been targets of attacks before. In September 1996, a bomb exploded outside the home of the then Maribor judge Konrad Rebernik, gravely injuring his wife. The attack was linked to his work.
Anton Panjan, now serving as the president of the Ljubljana Higher Court, was attacked with a firearm at his Črnomelj home in 2002 when he served as a Novo Mesto district judge.
An explosive device also blew up in front of the Radovljica home of Ljubljana District Court judge Katarina Turk Lukan in November 2009, injuring one of her underage daughters. That attack was allegedly linked to the judge's work as well.
STA, 6 June - DRI, a state-owned consulting and engineering company specialised in infrastructure projects, will take over the management of Maribor airport as a stop-gap solution after the current operator's lease terminates on 15 July, the government decided on Thursday.
The decision comes after the Chinese-backed airport operator Aerodrom Maribor announced in January it was invoking a six-month notice and terminating the 15-year lease agreement it signed in 2017 due to delays in a planned expansion of the airport's runway.
The transfer of the lease to DRI, which the government said follows the "unsuccessful story with the Chinese lessees", will help the state avoid the return of almost EUR 6 million in EU funds it received to build a new passenger terminal in Maribor.
In accordance with the commitments accompanying the EU funds, the airport must stay open at least until mid-November 2021.
Infrastructure Minister Alenka Bratušek, who wondered how "such a bad partner" had been chosen to operate the airport in the first place, said the government had no other choice but to transfer the management onto DRI, whose bylaws were changed today so that it can act as manager of infrastructure.
This is because the current operator made continued cooperation conditional on the state paying them to manage the airport rather than it paying the EUR 100,000 monthly lease, while transferring the lease to a private company would require a new tender.
Bratušek said this was just a stop-gap solution as the state had no intention of managing the airport in the long term. The long-term options are finding a new lessee or selling the airport. Bratušek finds the first option more likely.
The local community welcomed the government decision to save the airport, while Aerodrom Maribor said it would shortly take decisions in the company's interest.
Unofficial information indicates Aerodrom Maribor will not take any drastic measures for the time being.
The company, owned by SHS Aviation, said the solutions it had presented to the government were the most favourable in terms of finances and the stability of air services.
Hoče Mayor Marko Soršak hopes DRI manages to get the operating licence so that the airport remains open. Similarly, the Maribor municipality pointed to the airport's role for the Štajerska region's development.
Both Hoče and Maribor believe the state should continue with changes to the national zoning plan for the airport, which they see as a prerequisite for its development.
Maribor would also like a rail track to be integrated into the national zoning plan to make the airport more attractive to potential new customers.
The Štajerska Chamber of Commerce is aware today's decision is but a stop-gape measure buying the government time before it takes the final decision on the airport's future.
Chamber director Aleksandra Podgornik said the region's businesses considered the airport an important infrastructure which should bring both the region and the state a competitive advantage.
She said "the region does not demand any special treatment for the airport, into which a lot of effort and money has been invested".
But we "demand the same conditions that apply to Aerodrom Portorož and Ljubljana airport, which is profitable and in foreign hands but still receives support".
STA, 16 May 2019 - Maribor have secured their 15th national football championship three rounds before the end of the season with a 3:1 win in Celje on Wednesday.
After blowing the chance of locking up the title last Saturday at home against the rivals Olimpija Ljubljana, Maribor were far more determined last evening in Celje.
The seventh national championship title for the club from Slovenia's second city in the last nine seasons was secured in the last ten minutes with goals by Jan Mlakar and Dino Hotić.
The win was coupled with Olimpija, the defending champions, losing at home to Domžale to fall eleven points behind Maribor three rounds to go.
Olimpija has been the fiercest rival to Maribor this season, but too much turmoil within the club has not allowed the rivalry to be close although Olimpija has maintained its second place in the rankings since the 8th round.
Maribor have meanwhile kept the first place in the standings since the second round, coming out of the gates in the first five matches by scoring as many as 19 goals.
The club has also remained at the top in terms of goals scored, while the defence headlined by goalie Kenan Pirić allowed a season-leading 29 goals so far, six goals fewer than the closest opponent in this department, Mura.
Maribor, the only Slovenian club to have played in the group stage of the UEFA Champions League, have been dominant lately, with Olimpija being the only other title winner in the last nine years, in the 2015/16 and 2017/18 seasons.
Commenting on the feat, Maribor head coach Darko Milanič said the club had been very dominant this season, and praised the players as well as the fans for "their unbelievable support".
"We're working hard, we've deserved the championship, and I'm very proud of the team. I enjoy sitting on this bench, as many good things are happening," he added.
Sport director Zlatko Zahovič is happy that Maribor have managed to defeat the financially stronger Olimpija. "When the opponent functions only with money, it is hard to play against it."
Maribor will have the opportunity to win the double title as they play Olimpija in the national cup final at the end of the month.
STA, 8 May 2019 - Druga Godba, a festival of world music, will kick off in Ljubljana on 21 May and run until 25 May, when it will move to Maribor too. The event will feature 16 concerts of various music genres performers from eleven countries, including the acclaimed US experimental guitarist and composer Yonatan Gat and popular Ukrainian folk quartet DakhaBrakha.
Visitors will also be able to enjoy the beats of the London-based Afrobeat band Kokoroko or groove to the sounds of the leading Polish jazz musician Maciej Obara.
The 35th international festival will also see a return of the South African performance art ensemble The Brother Moves On, which will perform with the Slovenian pianist Bowrain.
Upon Druga Godba's initiative, the Helsinki-based futuristic jazz band Mopo will share the stage with Finland's saxophone star Jimi Tenor.
Another highlight will be a performance of the Brazilian band Liniker e os Caramelows and its charismatic lead singer Liniker, getting visitors moving with their funky soul Afro-Brazilian beats.
The Ljubljana-based events will either take place at Kino Šiška, the Cankarjev Dom arts centre or at AKC Metelkova.
The festival will move to Slovenia's second largest city on 25 May. The programme there includes a number of events in Maribor's former minorite church and the city puppet theatre's auditorium, such as a performance of the traditional Polish band Sutari, the Slovenian group Bakalina Velika and the South-African indigenous genre band BCUC.
Having bought the tickets for the Maribor-based events, the visitors from Ljubljana will be also entitled to a free return ticket to Maribor.
Druga Godba provides an opportunity to experience the fusion of traditional folk and contemporary music, cross-genre productions, aspiring as well as established musicians.
"Druga Godba is designed to inspire curiosity, broaden horizons, urge people to go listen to unfamiliar music acts. That has always been our aim and that remains the case this year," said the head of the festival's programme Bogdan Benigar.
The English website for the festival is here, while you can also follow it on Facebook
https://drugagodba.si/en/jazz-connective/
https://www.facebook.com/druga.godba.3
Maribor Town Hall was built in 1515, remodeled later in the century, renovated in the mid-19th, and then later returned to its original, 16th century, appearance. Above, and below, are some picture of the place in the 20th century, all public domain and sourced from Wikipedia.
1903
1903
1903
Early 20th century
1916
1916
Mid-20th century
Mid-20th century
1958
1960
1960
1963
1968
Other posts in this series can be found here
