Vedran Pavlek (left in the picture) is alleged to have cheated the federation. © APA/afp / DAMIR SENCAR

Croatia's Ski Federation rocked by corruption scandal

A scandal involving embezzled funds at the Croatian Ski Federation is causing a major stir.

April 04, 2026

From: apa/sn

Former ski racer and ex-head of the Croatian Ski Federation (HSS), Vedran Pavlek, is alleged to have defrauded the federation of at least 30 million euros in recent years. While the hearing to order his pre-trial detention began at the court in Zagreb, Pavlek was arrested in Istanbul, according to Croatian media.

In addition to Pavlek, four other of the six suspected association employees were ordered to be held in pretrial detention for one month. Pavlek is accused of being a flight risk, of potentially influencing witnesses, and of being a risk of reoffending. According to Croatian media, citing information from the anti-corruption agency USKOK, a third of the funds are said to have ended up in Pavlek's foreign bank accounts.

According to reports, Pavlek, who resigned as head of the ski federation in mid-March, allegedly conducted sham transactions with foreign companies, including those in Austria, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Monaco, Hungary, and Slovakia. A now-deceased Austrian businessman is said to have played a leading role in these dealings.