Ljubljana mayor denies corruption charges

LJUBLJANA Zoran Jankovic, who currently serves as mayor of Ljubljana, has denied the charges of conflict of interest and abuse of official position. The Serbia-born politician and businessman sat down with B92 TV's Jugoslav Cosic to add that "it's impossible to find anyone who will say that they gave some money to Zoran Jankovic". Ljubljana mayor denies corruption charges He also rejected claims that the reason he found himself accused of wrongdoing and under fire of the media in Slovenia had to do with his Serb background. "I am proud of my origins, I claim that I am a thoroughbred mixed breed, and do not accept to be claimed by anyone," Jankovic noted. The exclusive interview will be aired on B92 on Wednesday, at 23:00 CET. Jankovic also he referred to Ljubljana as "his city", and said he was proud to be included in the list of 25 candidates for "world's best mayor". He was briefly arrested by Slovenian police last week, as part of an investigation into the construction of local sports center Stozice, along with both his sons, a close associate, and two men heading the companies involved in the job, Gradis and Energoplan. They are suspected of abuse of office, "machinations with influence on the financial interests of Europe", fraud, money laundering, producing forgeries and destroying official IDs. Another charge is that they accepted financial gains in exchange for illegal mediation. Last December, Jankovic and his coalition won a majority of votes in Slovenia's parliamentary elections, but they subsequently failed to form a coalition government. Zoran Jankovic (Beta, file) B92

Ljubljana mayor denies corruption charges

He also rejected claims that the reason he found himself accused of wrongdoing and under fire of the media in Slovenia had to do with his Serb background.

"I am proud of my origins, I claim that I am a thoroughbred mixed breed, and do not accept to be claimed by anyone," Janković noted.

The exclusive interview will be aired on B92 on Wednesday, at 23:00 CET.

Janković also he referred to Ljubljana as "his city", and said he was proud to be included in the list of 25 candidates for "world's best mayor".

He was briefly arrested by Slovenian police last week, as part of an investigation into the construction of local sports center Stožice, along with both his sons, a close associate, and two men heading the companies involved in the job, Gradis and Energoplan.

They are suspected of abuse of office, "machinations with influence on the financial interests of Europe", fraud, money laundering, producing forgeries and destroying official IDs. Another charge is that they accepted financial gains in exchange for illegal mediation.

Last December, Janković and his coalition won a majority of votes in Slovenia's parliamentary elections, but they subsequently failed to form a coalition government.