Zagreb, August 4, 2025 — Former Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader has been released on parole after serving two-thirds of his 18-year prison sentence for corruption and abuse of office.
Sanader was convicted in three high-profile cases: embezzling public funds in the Fimi Media case, accepting bribes in the Planinska affair, and handing over control of the national oil company INA to Hungary’s MOL in exchange for kickbacks.
The Zagreb County Court confirmed that Sanader met the legal criteria for conditional release. He will remain under probationary supervision, required to report monthly and barred from changing his residence without prior court approval.
His release has sparked mixed reactions in Croatia, with many voicing concern over the integrity of the judicial system and calling for full accountability.
