By: Dr Metod Berlec
The Epstein affair continues to shake the American and global public. Slovenia’s mainstream media write about it with zeal, with a kind of moral relish, as if it were proof of the decay of the “rotten West”.
But when it comes to the domestic Fotopub affair, where similarly serious allegations of sexual violence, manipulation, and abuse of (underage) girls have surfaced, the same media and political circles remain more or less silent. And this despite the fact that the Fotopub venue in the centre of Ljubljana was a place regularly frequented by prominent figures of the left‑leaning cultural and political scene, including visible faces of the current ruling coalition. This intertwining of the so‑called alternative scene, left‑wing political structures, and the media circles connected to them highlights why the investigation has not moved from dead centre: it could damage the entire transitional left.
Psychologist Matic Munc recently reminded the public of this scandal on his blog. He described testimonies about the recruitment of young girls in Ljubljana bars, private parties in studios and weekend houses, where serious abuses allegedly took place, including against minors. These stories first surfaced widely in the summer of 2022, when anonymous social‑media profiles published testimonies from victims of Dušan Smodej, president of the Fotopub Association. The turning point came in August of that year with the suicide of the “divinely revered” Roman Uranjek, one of the central figures of this degenerate “art scene.” According to Munc, after his death, his friends and colleagues gathered in Križanke to discuss how to limit the damage caused by the testimonies. In the weeks that followed, those who spoke out about the abuse became targets of smear campaigns. Meanwhile, mainstream media attention quickly faded, largely thanks to pressure from major advertisers and left‑wing “influencers” connected to the Fotopub circles.
What stands out even more is the comparison with how law‑enforcement authorities act when someone from the right‑wing political camp is under scrutiny. In those cases, procedures move at lightning speed, investigations are conducted with extraordinary zeal, and the media follow developments almost in real time, as if the entire apparatus suddenly switched into turbo mode. The latest example is the indictment proposal against members of the NSi‑affiliated KNOVS, filed by the Specialised State Prosecutor’s Office, alleging abuse of official position. But when suspicions arise that could implicate people from the left‑wing political or cultural milieu, everything suddenly grinds to a halt. Procedures drag on, responsibility evaporates, and institutions slip into neutral, as if nothing can be done. The Fotopub affair is therefore a textbook example of this double standard. More than three and a half years after the scandal broke, the indictment against its main figure – Dušan Smodej – still has not been served. The central protagonist strolls abroad freely and continues to “enjoy” his artistic life…