Slovenia Confirms Foreign Election Interference by Intelligence Agency
Slovenia's government has announced that its intelligence service has unequivocally confirmed foreign influence operations targeting the country's recent parliamentary election. The statement, issued on Thursday 26 March 2026, follows a meeting of the National Security Council where concrete evidence was presented.
Intelligence Findings and Legal Action
The Slovenian Intelligence and Security Agency, known as SOVA, provided detailed findings regarding activities of a foreign para-intelligence agency and its contacts with Slovenian entities. The government confirmed that all collected evidence, both domestic and international, has been transferred to competent law enforcement authorities, including the prosecutor's office and police. While the specific foreign agency was not named in the public statement, the investigation is now in the hands of judicial authorities.
Election Context and Controversial Recordings
The election, held last weekend, resulted in no clear majority. With over 99% of votes counted, Prime Minister Robert Golob's liberal Freedom Movement secured 29 seats in the 90-member assembly, while the opposition right-wing Slovenian Democratic Party, or SDS, obtained 28 seats. The campaign was marred by controversy when videos appeared online showing secretly recorded conversations. These recordings allegedly featured individuals linked to the government boasting about political connections.
A coalition of activists and journalists claimed these videos were deliberately leaked to influence voter behavior. Slovenian authorities have since launched a formal investigation into these allegations. Further intelligence suggested connections between the SDS and a private foreign agency regarding the recordings.
Black Cube Involvement and Political Denials
SDS leader Janez Jansa acknowledged having contact with an adviser from the private intelligence firm Black Cube but has firmly denied any wrongdoing. Vojko Volk, the secretary of state for national and international security, revealed last week that Black Cube representatives visited Slovenia four times in recent months, including to a street in Ljubljana where the SDS headquarters is located.
Prime Minister Golob has called upon the European Union to investigate the matter. In response to inquiries, Black Cube stated in an email that it operates exclusively for business clients worldwide, focusing on litigation support and white-collar crime cases. The agency emphasized its commitment to legal compliance in all jurisdictions and its role in uncovering fraud and corruption globally.
Detailed Intelligence Presentation
In a separate statement dated 20 March, the government disclosed that SOVA head Josko Kadivik presented a comprehensive account of events from 10-11 December 2025. This included material evidence linking three Black Cube representatives—Giora Eiland, Liron Tzur, and Dan Zorella—to the visit at Trstenjakova ulica 8 in Ljubljana, the SDS headquarters location.
Kadivik's findings also detailed Black Cube's activities within Slovenia and abroad, demonstrating what authorities describe as counterintelligence operations against Slovenia and direct foreign interference in the electoral process. The government maintains that these actions represent a serious threat to national sovereignty and democratic integrity.
The situation continues to develop as law enforcement agencies proceed with their investigations and political leaders assess the implications for Slovenia's democratic institutions and international relations.
