SloveniaOwnership & classification
Founded: 2018
Ownership
Oštro is a non-profit center for investigative journalism for the Adriatic region, established on 30 March 2018 and founded by former Delo investigative journalist Anuška Delić, who is its editor-in-chief. It is run as an independent non-governmental/non-profit organization, not owned by any company, party or state; control rests with its own founders and editorial leadership.
Funding
Funded by public calls and grants, project tenders, and donations; named backers include the Open Society Foundations / Open Society Institute and the European Journalism COVID-19 Support Fund, supplemented by individual donations and Slovenia's 1%-of-income-tax donation scheme. Donor names are disclosed only on request or above a set threshold.
Affiliation & stance
Oštro produces non-partisan investigative and fact-checking journalism and is not aligned with any party or the state. As an independent non-profit funded by grants and donations with no party, state or corporate owner, it is correctly classed INDEPENDENT.
Editorial lean
- Our estimate
- Center
- Measured from coverage
- Centerbased on 7
75/100
Factual
73/100
Objective
15
Articles
15
reports
Top stories
Most covered right now
Recent coverage
Has the Constitutional Court disregarded the rule of law and ruled in favour of the usurpers of RTV?
The Constitutional Court of Slovenia has reportedly made a decision in the case involving RTV (Radio Television of Slovenia), with five judges voting against two. This decision could be seen as a blow to the rule of law, as critics argue the entire process surrounding the new RTV law has been heavily influenced by politics rather than legal or professional standards. The court previously stated it would not make content-related decisions, which confused many due to the significance of the issue for a key public institution. Two judges were excluded from the decision-making process due to potential conflicts of interest, including President Rok Čeferin, who has ties to a law firm associated with RTV, and Neža Kogovšek Šalamon, who worked at the Peace Institute involved in the referendum campaign related to the RTV law. Critics argue the new RTV law was politically motivated, giving significant influence over editorial policies to a leftist faction. The process was further complicated by legal challenges and lack of broad consensus, with opponents claiming the law allows any ruling party to reshape RTV according to their agenda. The visit of European Commission Vice-President Vera Jú
The Palestinian flag was not created by the KGB.
On June 4th this year, shortly after the confirmation of the fourth Janez Janša government, the Palestinian flag was displayed at the front of the government palace. The next day, it was hoisted at the presidential palace. A user on social media platform X claimed that the Palestinian flag 'was not created by anyone' but was invented by the Soviet intelligence agency KGB based on the Jordanian flag. This claim gained over 100 shares before being removed by the platform's editors. Žiga Smolič, co-founder of the Center for Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Ljubljana's Faculty of Philosophy, explained that the design of the Palestinian flag is based on the Arab Revolt flag used during World War I. He noted that the idea behind the flag originated before the Soviet Union existed and that the Levant region was not under Soviet influence at the time. Smolič emphasized that the colors of the Palestinian flag—black, white, green, and red—are traditional Pan-Arab colors shared by several Arab countries. Elie Podeh, a professor at Hebrew University in Jerusalem, wrote in an academic paper published in 2011 that Palestinians did not have an official national flag until 1948 due to a
The Commission of Inquiry cannot independently invade the privacy of individuals.
The article discusses the powers and limitations of parliamentary inquiry commissions in Slovenia, focusing on their ability to investigate individuals' privacy. It highlights that these commissions have broad authority under the constitution, similar to judicial organs, allowing them to examine the actions of politicians, institutions, and even private citizens. The article references past inquiries into various topics such as corruption, banking scandals, and media operations. However, it notes that the recent amendment to the law on parliamentary inquiries does not significantly change the scope of these investigations, leaving individuals vulnerable to scrutiny without the option to challenge the legality of such actions through constitutional review.
Car Grave: Facebook duo without permits collecting used vehicles
An investigation has uncovered three individuals who have been organizing the collection, purchase, and dismantling of used vehicles this year, despite having no registered business for vehicle transportation or environmental permits for collecting or dismantling cars. One pair within this group has been involved in this activity for at least six years, using at least six tow trucks. Their flyers promised quick and reliable vehicle removal, transportation, purchase, and sale of all types of vehicles, engines, and agricultural machinery, along with vehicle registration transfers and proof of dismantling. Two contact persons—Marjan and Blaž—with their phone numbers were listed on the flyers. A resident of Postojna, who wished to remain unnamed, reported that these flyers appeared in mailboxes around Postojna and Sežana. The number associated with 'Blaž' was traced to social media posts by a user named Blaž Debevec on Facebook and TikTok, where he promoted vehicle removal and transportation services. When contacted, the person answering claimed not to have a tow truck. Public data show that Debevec recently advertised vehicle removal on Facebook in February and posted about renting a仓
The claim that the heart exists in the embryo is only partially correct
The article discusses the development of the human heart during embryonic stages, clarifying common misconceptions about when the heart begins to beat. According to data from the Encyclopedia of Neonatal Development from 2008, the fetal heartbeat gradually increases to around 160 beats per minute early in pregnancy and decreases by 20–25 beats per minute by late pregnancy. The article references a May 17 event in Koper, where organizers claimed the fetal heart begins beating on the 22nd day after conception. However, experts at the National Institute of Public Health (NIJZ) explain that the calculation of gestational age typically starts from the first day of the last menstrual period, which is approximately two weeks before fertilization. This means the actual age of the embryo is shorter than the gestational age. Embryologists note that the heart begins to develop around the fourth week after fertilization, corresponding to five to six weeks of gestational age. While the basic structure of the heart is formed by the eighth week after fertilization (around ten weeks of gestational age), functional maturity occurs later. Dr. Nataša Tul Mandić, a gynecologist and professor, explains
The three towers of the Regent's Quarter to a new owner again for a paltry seven thousand euros.
The article reports on the ongoing changes in ownership structure of the Regentov kvart residential project in Ljubljana, which is valued at 85 million euros. Despite multiple shifts in ownership, the capital flows continue to trace back to Russia through various European companies. In April 2024, the company responsible for the construction of three towers was sold for just under 7,000 euros, effectively transferring control to an Austrian firm linked to a Russian businessman, Maxim Žiganov. The article highlights concerns over transparency, noting that the true investor remains unclear despite repeated ownership changes. It also mentions that local residents have been opposing the construction for over two decades, leading to the revocation of a building permit by the court in March 2024, followed by its reissuance in June. Žiganov, who has ties to several real estate firms across Austria, Slovakia, and the UK, is now officially listed as the owner of the company managing the project.
The change in sick leave is coming soon: the instructions are only electronic, what does the patient have to arrange?
The Slovenian Health Insurance Institute (ZZZS) is introducing an electronic document for managing sick leave starting July 1st. This replaces the traditional paper-based instructions provided by a personal doctor or substitute physician upon opening a sick leave permit. The new system allows employees to access movement guidelines through the zVEM portal or mobile app, while those without digital access can receive them via email, patient portals, SMS, or in person during clinic visits. Individuals must inform their personal doctor of any changes in their condition on the same day or at the latest on the next working day after the clinic visit. The electronic document includes information on permitted activities, validity period, reason for absence, and the first day of absence. Employers will have access to these guidelines through the SPOT portal. The process will become available from June 19th, with the note that the electronic document provides informational data, and final documentation for compensation calculations will still require an electronic sick leave certificate.
Journalist Baković partially correct about Chinese 996ov
The article discusses the '996 work system' in China, where employees work from 9 AM to 9 PM, six days a week. According to data from China's statistical office, nearly two-thirds of the country's 734.4 million workers were employed in urban areas by late 2024. Journalist Zorana Baković claimed this system was once common but has recently faced resistance from Chinese youth, despite Alibaba founder Jack Ma describing it as a privilege. Professor Maja Veselič clarified that while the term '996' became popular around ten years ago, especially in internet companies, it does not appear in official legal documents. She explained that long working hours with unpaid overtime have existed since the 1990s in industries like manufacturing and construction, often involving migrant workers without proper residency status. The practice of extended work hours became more widespread in private sector tech companies starting around 2010.
My Unfounded Opinion on the increase in the price of railway infrastructure upgrades
The article discusses claims by the portal 'Moja Dolenjska' that the costs of upgrading railway infrastructure in Slovenia have increased significantly during the tenure of Infrastructure Minister Alenka Bratušek. The portal published an article citing data collected using AI tools, which suggested some projects had increased in cost by over 100%. However, representatives from the company 2TDK, responsible for the second track project between Divača and Koper, stated that the project remained within its initial financial framework and had not been inflated. Other projects, such as upgrades to railway stations in Ljubljana, Jesenice, Brezovica, Preserje, and Vnanje Gorice, were also mentioned with discrepancies between the reported costs and those provided by the Directorate for Infrastructure (DRSI). Officials at DRSI clarified that some costs had slightly increased but emphasized that no formal requests had been made to alter contract values for unfinished projects.
Portal unfounded on the health of (un) vaccinated children
The article discusses a Facebook post sharing a screenshot of an article titled 'Are Unvaccinated Children Healthier?' published by the magazine Misteriji last November. The article claims that pharmaceutical companies' studies show unvaccinated children are healthier than those who received one or more vaccines. The post gained significant attention online with over 300 shares, 800 likes, and 335 comments. Further investigation revealed that the article was written by Ivo Zvardoň, who previously posted content on 321gold about the pros and cons of childhood vaccination. Zvardoň cited multiple
It's not true that the STA lied during the election reporting.
The article discusses claims made by the portal e-Maribor regarding alleged inaccuracies in the reporting of results from this year's parliamentary elections by the Slovenian Press Agency (STA). The portal accused STA of misleading the public by reporting that Matej Arčon received the highest share of votes in his electoral district. The article notes that other media outlets also reported STA's findings without verification. It mentions an initial report published by STA on March 23, which stated that Robert Golob received nearly 10,400 votes in his districts and that Arčon achieved the最高的投票率
Claim on the method of acquisition 30 Sijovčevo real estate unfounded
The article discusses claims made by a Facebook user regarding how Defense Minister Borut Sajović acquired 30 properties. The claim suggests that Sajović, while serving as mayor of Tržič, gave roses and gifts to caretakers at a senior citizens' housing complex (DSO), leading them to transfer their property to him. The article notes that Sajović was mayor of Tržič from 2006 to 2022 and became defense minister in October 2024. It also mentions that Oštro has been tracking Sajović's assets since September 2024 and updated the information in June of last year. As of May this year, all identified S
UN repeatedly publicly warned of the situation in Nigeria
The article discusses the United Nations' presence in Nigeria since 1960 and mentions a social media post by an Argentine-Israeli user who claims Islamic extremists have killed 52,000 Christians in Nigeria, which the UN has allegedly not reported. The article also references the Conflict Barometer, an annual report by the Heidelberg Institute for International Conflict Research, which tracks conflicts involving Boko Haram and the Nigerian government since 2009.
Overlooked
Under-reported & one-sided
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