By: Ana Horvat / Nova24TV
In connection with the arrest of two Russian spies, there is speculation that during the leadership of Minister Asta Vrečko, the Ministry of Culture even subsidised the gallery of Russian spies (Art Gallery 5’14). The procedure for awarding the subsidy is said to be ongoing, although the decision has not yet been issued, but the minister is said to have already approved it. This was written on Twitter by investigative journalist Bojan Požar, who added that this is precisely why there is panic at the Ministry of Culture. Due to the Golob government’s “secret” sympathy for the Kremlin’s security forces, it would not be surprising if it were found out that the above is true, since it is also clear from the data in Erar that the Ministry of Culture has significantly increased the funding of the Forum of Slavic Cultures since Vrečko’s appearance.
Since Golob’s government took office, it has been noticed that, despite its apparent sympathy for the West, it is more sympathetic to the Kremlin’s security forces. As we have already reported, due to the international situation, Golob’s government has no choice but to play a double game, while not choosing the means. There are speculations that Culture Minister Asta Vrečko even subsidised the gallery of two captured Russian spies, which is not surprising, since she significantly increased the funding of the Forum of Slavic Culture after assuming her position. The Ministry of Culture has already spent more than 100,000 euros on sponsoring friendly ties with Russia since the new government took office. Apparently, they have found ways to covertly support their ideological “friends” from the Kremlin, while appearing in public as their opponents.
As we know, the two captured Russian spies in Slovenia presented themselves as 38-year-old Argentine citizens, a couple from Buenos Aires. According to the latest information, they supposedly work for the Russian military security intelligence service GRU or the foreign intelligence service SVR. Ludwig Gisch and Maria Rosa Mayer Munos are said to have spied under the pretext of trading Art Gallery 5’14, and before that they also had a company dealing in information services.
Given that among Golob’s political supporters there are several who are sympathetic to Putin’s Russia and Russian security forces from the Kremlin, various questions arise. Among other things, there is also speculation that the Ministry of Culture is even subsidising a gallery of Russian spies. Investigative journalist Bojan Požar wrote on Twitter that the ministry is panicking because of this and that the commission has already approved the subsidy. For this reason, we also contacted the Ministry of Culture and asked them if this is true, and if it is true, what will happen to this subsidy now.
It was from their Russophile-ideological affection that the organisation Forum of Slavic Cultures was born, and more than 2.5 million euros have already flowed into its account. About half from the Ministry of Culture and half from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The organisation acquired its first funds, and then taxpayer funds flowed relatively evenly to the institution’s account until the last Janša’s government took office, when they almost completely dried up. After the swearing-in of the government of Robert Golob, concrete taxpayer funds began to pour into the institution’s account again. First in July, just over 16,000 euros, then in August more than 32,000 euros, and in September as much as 80,000 euros.
To make the whole thing even more meaningful, the director of the Forum of Slavic Cultures is none other than former member of the SD Andreja Rihter. Let us remind you that she was one of the recipients of Russian decorations, and she received it only two weeks before the outbreak of war. Of the thirteen recipients of Russian decorations, only two returned their decorations at the outbreak of Putin’s aggression: former Minister of Labour, Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities, Anja Kopač Mrak, and Commander of the Guards Unit of the Slovenian Army, Lt. Col. Marko Hlastec. Other recipients of Russian medals did not return them, including none other than Rihter, also a former Minister of Culture from the ranks of the Social Democrats.