(VIDEO) Lobbyist Rok Snežič, who is on trial with Avdo Avdić, appeared in a t-shirt of Martin Krpan, a character who beheads Muslims

(Patria) - The trial of private prosecutor, tax advisor, and lobbyist Rok Snežič against the well-known Bosnian and Herzegovinian investigative journalist Avdo Avdić began this morning at the District Court in Maribor. Snežič accuses Avdić of lying and is prosecuting him for two criminal offenses – insult and defamation, writes 24.ur.com

If Slovenian and Bosnian and Herzegovinian investigative bodies are lying, then I am lying too, Avdić said before the hearing. Avdić, who, due to his personal acquaintance with Snežič, requested the judge's recusal. Watch below in the video how Avdić and Snežič met live for the first time.

http://www.24ur.com/video/63155900

Vsak dan prvi - 24ur.com

Even before entering the courtroom, Rok Snežič showed 24UR reporter Mojca Hanžič the t-shirt he wore specifically for this occasion. The shirt featured the character of Martin Krpan, the protagonist of Fran Levstik's story from the mid-19th century, who beheads a Muslim. "This is the Slovenian national hero Martin Krpan, with an axe in his hand. You know that he protected Slovenia from Muslims. That's what I consider a gentleman journalist. He says I am a threat to the national security of Muslims, and I just want to be like Martin Krpan."

One of the most famous Bosnian and Herzegovinian investigative journalists, editor of the portal Istraga, Avdo Avdić, has received threats multiple times. After today's hearing, he challenged Snežič with the words: "Do you want to be like Martin Krpan? Do you want to behead Muslims?".

The first hearing was held today at the District Court in Maribor, where the well-known tax advisor Snežič appeared as the private prosecutor. Avdić is accused of two criminal offenses, offensive accusation and defamation. "I am happy to have finally seen Rok Snežič live. I expect that everything I have published will be confirmed in court. Because I published documents mainly from the Slovenian judiciary, which is investigating Snežič, and the judiciary of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which is also investigating Snežič for money laundering. So I published documentation from the investigative bodies of Slovenia and BiH, and he is now suing me to prove that I lied... If the Slovenian and Bosnian investigative bodies are lying, then I am lying too,” Avdić said before the trial.

Since today's judge Maša Blažeka and Rok Snežič know each other from primary school, Avdić requested her recusal. The trial thus ended very quickly today. The final decision will be made by the president of the court. When asked if he doesn't know any judges in Maribor, Snežič replies: "Given that I graduated from the Faculty of Law in Maribor, and obtained my master's degree here, I know most of the judges and prosecutors. So, obviously, they will all be able to distinguish."

This is Rok Snežič's second private lawsuit against Avdić. The District Court in Ljubljana ruled in favor of the accused investigative journalist at the end of last week because it terminated the court proceedings as Snežič did not appear in court. Snežič will have to pay the costs of the criminal proceedings in the amount of 820.16 euros and a court fee of 100 euros.

At the end of October, a recording was published in the show 24UR, in which Snežič is seen receiving five thousand euros in cash. Skešanec, to whom the money was handed over in the recording, stated that it was a bribe. It is stated that he gave him a total of 90,000 euros in bribes, and part of the money also went to SDS, the largest ruling party at the time.