Slovenian President Borut Pahor expressed great concern over the existence of an armed group led by one of his rivals for the presidency in the 2017 election, the presidential office said on September 3.

Pahor issued the statement after Andrej Sisko posted a photo and footage of around 50 masked people conducting training exercises with guns on social media. Sisko said the aim of the group is to secure order and peace in the country, and to control state borders if necessary, which he claimed is not illegal.

However, he admitted for Reuters that the weapons the group uses have not been registered with Slovenian authorities. The police have already started an investigation into the case.

Sisko, who heads up the right-wing Movement for United Slovenia party, does not have a large following in Slovenia; he won only 2.2% in the presidential elections last year.

He formed the armed group as anti-immigrant sentiment increased in Slovenia since 2015 and 2016 when almost half a million migrants crossed the country to reach EU states searching for better life.

According to the President Pahor, the formation of the armed group is completely unacceptable. Pahor said he expects the competent authorities to act in accordance with the law. 

“Slovenia has the appropriate institutions and bodies that are responsible for securing peace, security and control of the state border and they are performing well their work,” Pahor said in the statement.