Drago Babič is not a member of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts and appeared on RTVS in his own name, without the knowledge of the SAZU management.
In the story of protective masks in recent weeks, we have also witnessed numerous statements in the transitional left-leaning media, that the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts (SAZU) has also been involved in the purchase of these masks. Allegedly, a few days after the appointment of the new Janša’s government, their member Drago Babič tweeted, that SAZU had from China an offer of a donation for a pile of protective equipment. According to the report, he allegedly tweeted on behalf of SAZU, as such, he was immediately invited to some media, including the national RTV, where he was quite eloquent.
All in all, it was very unusual and also unworthy of an institution like SAZU. The editorial board then turned to the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts and asked, who in this reputable institution had authorized Drago Babič to discuss about the delivery of protective masks from China. We were interested in whether the procurement agreements took place between SAZU and the Chinese government or the Chinese Academy of Sciences. We also asked, if Babič might have arranged these supplies independently.
We received a response from the SAZU management, that Drago Babič is not a member of SAZU and appeared on RTV Slovenia in his own name, without the knowledge of the SAZU management. “Babič is an external member of the SAZU Development Council,” they explained. They wrote that “On March 23, the SAZU Development Council received a very favourable offer from Nanjing Province, the People’s Republic of China. Babič explained the offer to the media at least on March 18, who also claimed, that it was an offer of a donation of 4 million masks, 200 respirators and a bunch of protective equipment. Now SAZU does not confirm that this should be a donation.
Babič therefore did not appear in the media as a member of SAZU, as he was also represented in the media, and he did not corrected this (obviously he liked it). In his appearances, when he had attacked the government of Janez Janša, he did not appear on behalf of SAZU, but independently, and did not even inform the SAZU leadership about that.
The question is, who Drago Babič is. The data show, that he is the son of a partisan commander and a sworn leftist. Well, now his attacks and machinations are more understandable.