President Borut Pahor offered a formal apology to the 25,671 people originating from former Yugoslav republics other than Slovenia who were erased from the register of permanent residents of newly-independent Slovenia 30 years ago.

According to Pahor, the erasure had been an unconstitutional act and a violation of human rights.

As a result, many were expelled from the country, with many families separated. Many fell ill, and some even died prematurely without access to healthcare services.

Civil associations have urged authorities on several occasions to formally apologise to everyone concerned.