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Tearful MEP in court: 'I feel like a third-class citizen'
Slovenia🏛️ PoliticsCenter9/2/2026

Tearful MEP in court: 'I feel like a third-class citizen'

Lidija Mavretič, nekdanja vinska kraljica in nesojena evropska poslanka, in njen partner Marko Hranilović sta bila obsojena zaradi tihotapljenja migrantov. V zapor jima ne bo treba, če dva leta ne bosta zakrivila novega kaznivega dejanja. Mavretičeva je v sodnem postopku poudarila svojo nevztrajnost in izražala žal za svojo situacijo, počutiti se kot tretjerazredna državljanka. Obtožena sta bila po aretaciji leta 2019, ko so policisti zasačili Mavretičevo in Hranilovićevo med tihotapljenjem migrantov. Mavretičeva je trdila, da je šlo za običajen prevoz, vendar so jo sodniki ne prepričali. Soobtoženi Pakistanec Kako Ali je priznal krivo in bil obsojen na leto zapora.

Lidija Mavretič, former wine queen and unsuccessful European Parliament candidate, was sentenced Tuesday at Ljubljana District Court for smuggling migrants. She and her partner Marko Hranilović were found guilty of illegally transporting migrants across borders. They will not serve prison time, however, as their sentences are conditional. The couple was arrested in July 2019 during a police operation near Sodražica. Officers caught them with Pakistani national Kako Ali, who had arranged the smuggling of seven migrants. According to prosecutors, Mavretič transported three Pakistani citizens in her Mercedes-Benz, while Hranilović drove four others in his Opel Insignia. Prosecutors claimed both received €200 per person for the transport through Slovenia. Mavretič denied involvement in organized crime and described the incident as a routine transportation. She said she agreed to drive after being contacted by Ali, who directed her to pick him up at Long Bridge. She then took him to Sodražica and Loški Potok, where more men approached her vehicle. These individuals, reportedly wet and exhausted, asked her to take them further before police arrived. During the trial, defense lawyers argued there was insufficient evidence to prove guilt. They pointed out that Ali had already been convicted and deported, and that no direct communication between Mavretič and Ali was confirmed. Defense attorney Bojan Celar stated that the prosecution failed to prove either defendant received payment for the transport. Another lawyer, Vlasta Petrucci, emphasized that no evidence linked Mavretič to an organized criminal group. Prosecutor Katarina Anželj maintained that the defendants' guilt was proven based on communications between Mavretič and Ali, which Mavretič later deleted. She requested one-and-a-half years for Mavretič and one year and two months for Hranilović. The court imposed conditional sentences instead, with each facing a fine of €2,700. The case began in 2019 following the arrest of Mavretič and Hranilović. The prosecution sought to call Ali and other migrants as witnesses, but they could not be located. Attempts to locate them in Pakistan were unsuccessful, leading the court to rely solely on statements from those questioned during the investigation. Mavretič expressed regret in her final statement, saying she felt like a third-class citizen due to the eight-year legal process. She admitted she had been naive and apologized for the situation. She claimed she was trying to rebuild her life through taxi driving but lost clients once the legal proceedings started. The court ruled that Mavretič and Hranilović were part of an organized group planning to smuggle migrants into Italy via Slovenia. Their conditional sentences include fines and probation. The court did not confirm how much money they actually earned from the smuggling operation. The case highlights the challenges faced by courts in proving organized crime when key witnesses are unavailable. It also underscores the personal toll such legal battles can have on individuals, even when they ultimately receive lighter sentences. The defendants will face probation and financial penalties, but no jail time. The court’s decision reflects its assessment of the available evidence and the lack of conclusive proof linking them directly to the smuggling network.

How this report was made. Objective News wrote this report from 3 source articles, using AI-assisted synthesis under our methodology. It is our own text, not a copy of any single outlet. Read our methodology.

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3 reports

Dnevnik logoDnevnikIndependent🔒CenterFactual 85Objective 709/1/2026
Tearful MEP in court: 'I feel like a third-class citizen'

Lidija Mavretič, nekdanja vinska kraljica in nesojena evropska poslanka, in njen partner Marko Hranilović sta bila obsojena zaradi tihotapljenja migrantov. V zapor jima ne bo treba, če dva leta ne bosta zakrivila novega kaznivega dejanja. Mavretičeva je v sodnem postopku poudarila svojo nevztrajnost in izražala žal za svojo situacijo, počutiti se kot tretjerazredna državljanka. Obtožena sta bila po aretaciji leta 2019, ko so policisti zasačili Mavretičevo in Hranilovićevo med tihotapljenjem migrantov. Mavretičeva je trdila, da je šlo za običajen prevoz, vendar so jo sodniki ne prepričali. Soobtoženi Pakistanec Kako Ali je priznal krivo in bil obsojen na leto zapora.

Bias read (Center): The article reports on a legal case involving a former European Parliament candidate and her partner, focusing on their conviction for human trafficking. The framing appears balanced, presenting both the defendant’s perspective and the court’s decision without overtly favoring one side. Emotional ph

Why factuality (85): This article provides more detailed information than the first, including the name of the presiding judge (Ana Klampfer Binder), the nature of the charge (smuggling migrants), and mentions the arrest of Kako Alij. It also quotes Mavretič’s emotional response during sentencing. These details align wi

Why objectivity (70): While the article presents both sides of the story, Mavretič's plea and the court's decision, it still contains some subjective language like 'tretjerazredna državljanka' (third-class citizen), which could be seen as biased. However, it avoids overtly promoting any particular viewpoint and maintains

Slovenske novice logoSlovenske noviceIndependentCenterFactual 75Objective 609/2/2026
The Queen of Wine and her husband smuggled migrants, that's their punishment

Lidija Mavretič, bivša vinska kraljica in kandidatka za Evropski parlament za stranko SDS, ter njen mož Marko Hranilović sta leta 2019 zaradi prepovedanega prehoda meje obtožena. Policisti jih so ujeti pri Sodražici, kjer sta prevažala migrantov – tri državljane Pakistan in štiri njihove sorodnike – v avtomobilih. Oba sta dobila 5400 evrov stranske denarne kazni. Sodni senat ni dvomil v njunih krivičnih dejanjih.

Bias read (Center): The article presents a factual account of a legal case involving a former political figure without overtly biased language or selective sourcing. It reports on the charges, the court's decision, and the penalties imposed, without emphasizing any particular ideological perspective.

Why factuality (75): The article accurately reports the legal outcome of Lidija Mavretič and Marko Hranilović being sentenced for smuggling migrants, including the date (July 26, 2019), the location (Sodražica), and the fine amount (€5,400). However, it lacks specific details about the legal framework or the exact charg

Why objectivity (60): The article uses emotionally charged language such as 'vinska kraljica' (wine queen) and 'nesojena evroposlanka' (unsuccessful European parliament candidate), which frames Mavretič in a biased manner. It also includes a call-to-action for readers to subscribe to e-newsletters, which introduces promo

Delo logoDeloIndependent🔒CenterFactual 70Objective 659/2/2026
The Queen of Wine and her husband smuggled migrants, that's their punishment

Lidija Mavretič, bivša vinska kraljica in kandidatka za Evropsko parlamento za SDS, ter njen mož Marko Hranilović sta leta 2019 zaradi prevoza migrantov prek meje dobila po dve tisoči evrov stranske denarne kazni. Policisti jih so ujeti pri Sodražici, kjer je Mavretičeva prevozila tri Pakistance v svojem Mercedesu, medtem ko je njen mož prevozil še štiri dodatne osebe v svoji Opeli. Sodišče je odločilo, da sta bila migranti namenjena vnotraj države in da je bilo vse storjeno v soglasju z Pakistancem Kakajem Alijem, ki je v tej zadevi že prejel enoletno zaporno kazen.

Bias read (Center): The article presents a factual account of a legal case involving a former political figure and her spouse. It does not exhibit overtly biased language, one-sided sourcing, or editorializing. The information is reported neutrally, focusing on the legal outcome and the actions taken by the individuals

Why factuality (70): The article accurately describes the legal proceedings against Mavretič and Hranilović, including the date of the incident, the charges, and the sentence. However, it fails to mention the involvement of Kako Alij and lacks specific legal terminology from the primary source document. Some details are

Why objectivity (65): The article uses similar emotionally charged language as the first article, such as 'vinska kraljica,' and includes a call-to-action for newsletter subscriptions. This introduces a promotional element and suggests a less objective stance compared to the second article.

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