[JURIST] Former Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Jansa [official website] was released from prison Friday until the country’s highest court rules on the appeal of his corruption conviction. Jansa was convicted of corruption [JURIST report] for soliciting bribes while signing a defense contract with the Finnish company Patria for a supply of armored vehicles and was sentenced to two years in prison. Jansa appealed to the Constitutional Court [official website] after an appeals court upheld the verdict [JURIST report] in April. The Constitutional Court ordered Jansa’s immediate release, saying it is in keeping with Slovenia’s democracy and will not affect the final decision.

Jansa served as the prime minister in 2004-2008 and in 2012-2013. His party was ousted in a no-confidence vote in February 2012 after he was accused of corruption. Slovenia has been plagued by severe economic problems and widespread allegations of corruption.