In a recent report, Slovenia's RTV explores the interests and role of the Mayor of Ljubljana at the international EXPO exhibition, which will be held in Belgrade in two years, and for which Serbian authorities will allocate contracts worth billions of euros without public procurement procedures.

RTV Slovenia reports on how it is possible that the Mayor of Ljubljana supports an „autocratic president, who has become a symbol of corruption, democratic violations, and media subjugation“. The focus is on the media, the influence of politics and capital on media independence, who owns them, who finances them, and the question why this information is hidden.

First, the connection between Ljubljana and Belgrade. Zoran Jankovic, Mayor of Ljubljana, was rewarded for his efforts in developing and strengthening cooperation and friendly relations between Serbia and Slovenia.

“What I’m particularly proud of is that Belgrade got EXPO. This is Belgrade tomorrow, Serbia tomorrow. It’s incredible. How one city, Belgrade, wins against cities from Europe, America, and Asia,” Jankovic said at the time.

Not only at public events, but Ljubljana’s mayor, Zoran Jankovic, and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic also meet in more private settings. For example, on March 7 last year, they had lunch at Zemono Castle in Vipava, where they also discussed EXPO, which will be held in Belgrade in 2027. In September of last year, when Jankovic visited Loznica, a town where protests against the construction of a lithium mine were taking place, Vucic said: “Jankovic’s experience and results are enormous. I expect him in Belgrade and look forward to further cooperation on numerous projects.”

Two months later, three weeks after 15 people died under a collapsed canopy at the Novi Sad Railway Station, and on the same day when students peacefully protested in front of the Faculty of Dramatic Arts, where they were attacked, they stood six kilometers away. Zoran Jankovic and Aleksandar Vucic were toasting at the Wine Vision Open Balkan fair, in the company of the President of Republika Srpska Milorad Dodik and other dignitaries.

The last time, three weeks ago, when students protested en masse in several cities and occupied faculties, Jankovic was once again hosted in Belgrade, reports RTV Slovenia.

“Excellent conversation and lunch with my great friend Zoran Jankovic, Mayor of Ljubljana. Today, the special topic was EXPO. I am grateful to Zoran Jankovic for his help, support, knowledge, and energy in this major project,” Vučcic wrote on Instagram.

What kind of help and support from the Mayor of Ljubljana in the EXPO project Vucic is referring to is unclear. It is also unclear why they meet so often on this subject and why Jankovic would participate for free in the committee guiding EXPO? RTV Slovenia directed these questions to the office of President Aleksandar Vucic, but they did not receive a response. The office of Ljubljana’s mayor stated that Jankovic is not involved in the committee or the advisory body.

Serbia has passed a special law for the realization of the exhibition, which is essentially a smaller specialized version of the well-known EXPO world exhibition. It has established a special state enterprise to manage the project and exempted it from public procurement provisions. A building permit will be possible to obtain without an environmental impact assessment. The value of the project? Up to 18 billion euros, reports RTV Slovenia.

An editor at the Nova portal says that the exact value of individual investments is not known.

“We can’t know in Serbia how much money that is. That’s the worst part because when all these things are carried out and organized, they are just declared as secrets. They have the legal right to say that it’s a secret contract, and we won’t disclose it. But that’s actually the problem that we don’t know about some deals that connect the Slovenian and Serbian sides, i.e., certain politicians from Slovenia and the government in Serbia. It probably involves some subcontractors on certain projects,” said Vojislav Milovancevic from the Nova portal.

A long-time close friend of Ljubljana’s mayor is also Goran Vesic, former Minister for Construction and Transport, who resigned due to the collapse of the canopy at Novi Sad Railway Station and is one of the 13 accused.

“Someone mishandled that canopy. But if we look at the world, how many buildings have collapsed? It’s not like I’m investigating anyone,” Jankovic said.

Jankovic and Vesic unveiled a monument to Slovenian linguist Jernej Kopitar in Belgrade three years ago.

Another friend is the famous Slovenian chef Tomaz Kavcic, owner of a restaurant at Emon Castle. Vucic often visits him, and Kavcic also cooks in Serbia. Seven years ago, he became an honorary consul of Serbia in Slovenia. Serbian media brought attention to Kavcic, calling him Vucic’s personal chef, in March 2023. He was a companion to Vucic’s godfather and close friend Nikola Petrovic when he caused an accident in Belgrade, destroying a 400,000-euro McLaren sports car. Cocaine was found in Petrovic’s urine, but not in his blood, and he was acquitted.

Like Vucic, Kavcic considers Petrovic a dear friend. Kavcic posted a photo of them skiing together and wished him a happy birthday. Petrovic, together with Gasper Carman, is the owner of the company NGA Projekt in Slovenia. Last year, he bought nearly one hectare of land in Trnovo at an auction. A larger business-residential building is expected to be built there, according to Slovenian state television.

Petrovic’s company representative is Melita Koblezan, who, according to media reports, is close to Ziga Debeljak, CEO of the Slovenian Sovereign Holding. They have carried out projects at Mercator and now own companies together.

“I think it would have been much easier if they hadn’t done business. So, this will be clear, but I did it and stand behind it.” This is how Jankovic explained for the third time this week why he sent Vucic, as he himself says, a personal letter of support.

Jankovic’s letter of support has faced strong opposition and criticism from the entire left-leaning political public in Slovenia.

In the past, many charges and legal actions were initiated against Zoran Jankovic. He was accused of bribery, abuse of office, tax evasion, and that his family had damaged creditors through maneuvers during the cancellation of a 29-million-euro debt. However, he has never been convicted, reports RTV Slovenia.

Now, due to the letter of support to Vucic, Jankovic is facing unanimous condemnation from the left-wing in Slovenia.

Before the last elections, according to media reports, former Prime Minister Janez Jansa and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic agreed to assist each other in finding data against their political opponents, Robert Golob, who led GNI, and Dragan Djilas, Vucic’s rival.