Mitja Ribičič
Encyclopedia
Mitja Ribičič is a former Slovenia
n Communist official and Yugoslav
politician. He was the only Slovenian prime minister
of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
(1969–1971). Between 1945 and 1957, he was at the top of the repressive system in Slovenia, and has been accused of violations of human rights and crimes against humanity.
, Italy
. His father was the renowned Slovene author Josip Ribičič
. His mother, Roza Ribičič, née Arringler, was a teacher in Slovene schools in Trieste, and an editor and public figure. She was the niece of the poet Anton Medved.
In the 1925, the family moved to Rakek
, Slovenia, then part of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (Yugoslavia), where Ribičič attended elementary school. In 1929, they settled in Ljubljana
. In 1938, Ribičič enrolled in the University of Ljubljana
, where he studied law. In his student years, he became member of several left wing youth organizations, and associations of Slovene emigrants from the Julian March
. In April 1941, when Yugoslavia was invaded by the Nazis
, he volunteered for the Yugoslav Army. After the Yugoslav defeat in late April, he joined the Liberation Front of the Slovenian People
. In October 1941, he became a member of the Communist Party of Slovenia.
In May 1942, he joined the Partisan resistance. He fought in various units in German-occupied Slovenia, first in Lower Styria
, then in Upper Carniola
, and in southern Carinthia
. In November 1944, he was sent to the Soviet Union
for training.
After his return, in early 1945, he served as a high-ranking official of the OZNA
, the Yugoslav military intelligence, and then in the UDBA
, the secret police. He was in charge of political repression of the anti-communist opposition in Slovenia. Between 1951 and 1952, he served as chief prosecutor for the Socialist Republic of Slovenia
, and then until 1957 as the Secretary of the Interior of the Socialist Republic of Slovenia
, being in charge of the repressive policies in Slovenia.
Between 1957 and 1963, he was a member of the Slovenian government, and then a member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Slovenia. In 1966, he rose to the leadership of the Yugoslav Communist Party, serving first as a member of the Executive Central Committee of the Party, and then as president of the Yugoslav government.
Between 1974 and 1982, he was president of the Socialist Union of the Working People of Slovenia, the official platform that included all professional and volountary associations in Slovenia. Between 1982 and 1983, he became president of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Yugoslavia, and was one of its members until 1986, when he retired.
He lives in Ljubljana. His son, Ciril Ribičič
, is a prominent left wing politician (member of the Social Democrats
) and lawyer, currently a member of the Slovenian Constitutional Court.
and Ljubo Sirc
. In 1970, when Ribičič visited Great Britain
as the head of the Yugoslav Government, Sirc, a British citizen, launched a public protest, disclosing the mistreatment suffered at the hands of Ribičič in 1946.
In 2005, Ribičič was charged by the Slovenian state prosecutor for genocide involving the actions of the Yugoslav People's Army
against prisoners of war in the aftermath of World War II
. The case, opened 60 years after the crime, was dismissed due to a lack of evidence.
Slovenia
Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
n Communist official and Yugoslav
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
politician. He was the only Slovenian prime minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
The Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was the Yugoslav state that existed from the abolition of the Yugoslav monarchy until it was dissolved in 1992 amid the Yugoslav Wars. It was a socialist state and a federation made up of six socialist republics: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia,...
(1969–1971). Between 1945 and 1957, he was at the top of the repressive system in Slovenia, and has been accused of violations of human rights and crimes against humanity.
Life and career
He was born in a Slovene-speaking family in TriesteTrieste
Trieste is a city and seaport in northeastern Italy. It is situated towards the end of a narrow strip of land lying between the Adriatic Sea and Italy's border with Slovenia, which lies almost immediately south and east of the city...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. His father was the renowned Slovene author Josip Ribičič
Josip Ribičič
Josip Ribičič was a Slovene writer, mostly famous as an author of popular children literature.- Life :He was born as Josip Ribičić in the town of Baška on the island Krk...
. His mother, Roza Ribičič, née Arringler, was a teacher in Slovene schools in Trieste, and an editor and public figure. She was the niece of the poet Anton Medved.
In the 1925, the family moved to Rakek
Rakek
Rakek is a settlement in the Municipality of Cerknica in the Inner Carniola region of Slovenia.In 1857 the Austrian Southern Railway line was built through the settlement and it became an important collection point for timber from surrounding forests....
, Slovenia, then part of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (Yugoslavia), where Ribičič attended elementary school. In 1929, they settled in Ljubljana
Ljubljana
Ljubljana is the capital of Slovenia and its largest city. It is the centre of the City Municipality of Ljubljana. It is located in the centre of the country in the Ljubljana Basin, and is a mid-sized city of some 270,000 inhabitants...
. In 1938, Ribičič enrolled in the University of Ljubljana
University of Ljubljana
The University of Ljubljana is the oldest and largest university in Slovenia. With 64,000 enrolled graduate and postgraduate students, it is among the largest universities in Europe.-Beginnings:...
, where he studied law. In his student years, he became member of several left wing youth organizations, and associations of Slovene emigrants from the Julian March
Julian March
The Julian March is a former political region of southeastern Europe on what are now the borders between Croatia, Slovenia, and Italy...
. In April 1941, when Yugoslavia was invaded by the Nazis
Invasion of Yugoslavia
The Invasion of Yugoslavia , also known as the April War , was the Axis Powers' attack on the Kingdom of Yugoslavia which began on 6 April 1941 during World War II...
, he volunteered for the Yugoslav Army. After the Yugoslav defeat in late April, he joined the Liberation Front of the Slovenian People
Liberation Front of the Slovenian People
On 26 April 1941 in Ljubljana the Anti-Imperialist Front was established. It was to promote "an international massive movement" to "liberate the Slovenian nation" whose "hope and example was the Soviet Union"...
. In October 1941, he became a member of the Communist Party of Slovenia.
In May 1942, he joined the Partisan resistance. He fought in various units in German-occupied Slovenia, first in Lower Styria
Lower Styria
Lower Styria or Slovenian Styria is a traditional region in northeastern Slovenia, comprising the southern third of the former Duchy of Styria. The population of Lower Styria in its historical boundaries amounts to around 705,000 inhabitants, or 34.5% of the population of Slovenia...
, then in Upper Carniola
Upper Carniola
Upper Carniola is a traditional region of Slovenia, the northern mountainous part of the larger Carniola region. The centre of the region is Kranj, while other urban centers include Jesenice, Tržič, Škofja Loka, Kamnik, and Domžale.- Historical background :...
, and in southern Carinthia
Carinthia (state)
Carinthia is the southernmost Austrian state or Land. Situated within the Eastern Alps it is chiefly noted for its mountains and lakes.The main language is German. Its regional dialects belong to the Southern Austro-Bavarian group...
. In November 1944, he was sent to the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
for training.
After his return, in early 1945, he served as a high-ranking official of the OZNA
OZNA
The Department for the Protection of the People was a security agency of the FPR Yugoslavia.-Founding:...
, the Yugoslav military intelligence, and then in the UDBA
UDBA
The Department of State Security was the secret police organization of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.Although it operated with more restraint than other secret...
, the secret police. He was in charge of political repression of the anti-communist opposition in Slovenia. Between 1951 and 1952, he served as chief prosecutor for the Socialist Republic of Slovenia
Socialist Republic of Slovenia
The Socialist Republic of Slovenia was a socialist state that was a constituent country of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia from 1943 until 1990...
, and then until 1957 as the Secretary of the Interior of the Socialist Republic of Slovenia
Socialist Republic of Slovenia
The Socialist Republic of Slovenia was a socialist state that was a constituent country of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia from 1943 until 1990...
, being in charge of the repressive policies in Slovenia.
Between 1957 and 1963, he was a member of the Slovenian government, and then a member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Slovenia. In 1966, he rose to the leadership of the Yugoslav Communist Party, serving first as a member of the Executive Central Committee of the Party, and then as president of the Yugoslav government.
Between 1974 and 1982, he was president of the Socialist Union of the Working People of Slovenia, the official platform that included all professional and volountary associations in Slovenia. Between 1982 and 1983, he became president of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Yugoslavia, and was one of its members until 1986, when he retired.
He lives in Ljubljana. His son, Ciril Ribičič
Ciril Ribičič
Ciril Ribičič is a Slovenian jurist, politician and author. Since 2000, he has served as member of the Constitutional Court of Slovenia....
, is a prominent left wing politician (member of the Social Democrats
Social Democrats (Slovenia)
The Social Democrats is a centre-left political party in Slovenia, currently led by Borut Pahor. From 1993 until 2005, the party was known as the United List of Social Democrats .-Origins:...
) and lawyer, currently a member of the Slovenian Constitutional Court.
Accusations of human rights violations
Several victims of Communist political persecution have accused him of brutal treatment during the time when he was an official with the secret police, including Angela VodeAngela Vode
Angela Vode was a Slovenian pedagogue, feminist author and human rights activist. An early member of the Communist Party of Yugoslavia, she was expelled from the Party in 1939 because of criticism against the Hitler-Stalin Pact...
and Ljubo Sirc
Ljubo Sirc
Ljubo Sirc CBE is a British-Slovene economist and prominent dissident from the former Yugoslavia.-Life and work:He was born in Kranj, then part of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes in a wealthy and renowned family of Slovene and Yugoslav patriots...
. In 1970, when Ribičič visited Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
as the head of the Yugoslav Government, Sirc, a British citizen, launched a public protest, disclosing the mistreatment suffered at the hands of Ribičič in 1946.
In 2005, Ribičič was charged by the Slovenian state prosecutor for genocide involving the actions of the Yugoslav People's Army
Yugoslav People's Army
The Yugoslav People's Army , also referred to as the Yugoslav National Army , was the military of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.-Origins:The origins of the JNA can...
against prisoners of war in the aftermath of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. The case, opened 60 years after the crime, was dismissed due to a lack of evidence.