Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski said on Tuesday that former prime minister Nikola Gruevski would be sent to prison if he returns to the country, citing final court rulings against him.
“If Nikola Gruevski appears in North Macedonia, he will be secured by law enforcement authorities and sent to serve his prison sentence in accordance with a final decision,” Mickoski said, adding that the government was obliged to respect the law and institutions.
Gruevski has been living in Budapest since 2018 after fleeing the country following his conviction.
Mickoski’s comments come after Hungary’s new prime minister, Peter Magyar, said his government would not protect individuals wanted by other countries, mentioning Gruevski.
Mickoski said North Macedonia had requested Gruevski’s extradition shortly after his departure, but the request was rejected in 2019, adding that he could not speculate if or when the former leader might return.
Meanwhile, opposition leader Venko Filipce called on the government to renew extradition efforts and launch an investigation into what he described as business links between former Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban and the current authorities.
“All agreements and business relations must be thoroughly investigated. Citizens deserve to know who stands behind key decisions in telecommunications, energy, and infrastructure,” Filipce said.
Mickoski rejected the accusations as unfounded, saying the licensing process for a third mobile operator had been conducted transparently by the relevant regulatory authority.
“The company 4iG has already paid the required funds and acquired the right to become the third mobile operator,” he said.
Mickoski also welcomed Magyar’s election victory in Hungary and said he expected relations between the two countries to remain stable.