The appointment of Marta Kos by Slovenia as a Commissioner nominee for the European Commission caused controversy due to allegations of her involvement with the former Yugoslav secret service, UDBA. Critics of Yugoslav policies often highlight UDBA’s extreme actions, including extrajudicial murders, as an example of the regime’s oppressive nature. However, historian Hrvoje Klasić argues that UDBA’s activities were not significantly different from other security agencies at the time. He suggests that the comparison of UDBA with more malign secret services like Stasi is inaccurate, as Yugoslavia was a more open society compared to East Germany. Despite accusations against UDBA, it played a crucial role in countering threats to Yugoslavia, such as nationalist violence and invasion attempts.
The crackdown on UDBA chief Aleksandar Ranković in 1966 led to decentralization of the agency, with each Yugoslav republic controlling its own branch. This shift occurred as Yugoslavia embraced “Coca-Cola communism,” a blend of Marxist socialism with openness to the West. During this period, Yugoslavia collaborated with international organizations and individuals, including Israel’s Mossad and terrorist Carlos the Jackal. UDBA’s involvement in events like Italy’s “Years of Lead” and targeted killings of ex-Nazis in exile demonstrated its far-reaching influence. Despite its controversial methods, Klasić emphasizes that UDBA was tasked with protecting Yugoslavia’s constitutional order during the Cold War.
Determining who worked for UDBA is challenging due to the agency’s broad classification of informants, which included scientists, journalists, and diplomats. People of interest were interviewed, and their information recorded for state purposes. This approach makes it difficult to differentiate between actual agents and ordinary citizens who interacted with UDBA. Klasić explains that labeling someone as a former secret service associate is often a tactic used in domestic political battles to discredit individuals or parties. In the case of Marta Kos, her alleged connection to UDBA has little relevance to European security, particularly since Yugoslavia and its secret service ceased to exist.
The issue of lustration, or the questioning and removal of public officials linked to a past regime, is complex in the former Yugoslavia. In Croatia, individuals who were involved in the security apparatus during the communist era later participated in the country’s defense during the war of independence. Klasić highlights the dilemma of determining who to lustrate, as some individuals may have served conflicting roles in different historical contexts. The challenges of addressing past connections to security agencies like UDBA underscore the complexities of historical accountability in post-communist societies.
The controversy surrounding Marta Kos highlights lingering tensions over the legacy of Yugoslavia and its secret service in Slovenian politics. The allegations against Kos have raised questions about her suitability for a top EU role, despite her denial of ties to UDBA. While UDBA’s actions remain controversial, historians like Hrvoje Klasić emphasize the agency’s role in safeguarding Yugoslavia’s security during a turbulent period in European history. The broader implications of Kos’ nomination underscore the ongoing debates over historical accountability and political legitimacy in the post-communist era.
