North Macedonia’s main opposition party VMRO-DPMNE has called on former Prime Minister Zoran Zaev, his party’s new leader Venko Filipče, and the Social Democratic Union of Macedonia (SDSM) to respond to allegations related to high-value investments and alleged acquisition of “golden visas” in Dubai.
In a public statement on Friday, the party questioned whether Zaev is involved in a construction project of more than 50 storeys in Dubai, asking: “Where did he get the money for such an investment?” It also claimed Filipče’s appointment as party leader was aimed at shielding Zaev from accountability.
The conservative party said it suspects both Zaev and Filipče may hold golden visas in the United Arab Emirates, a program that offers long-term residency to foreign investors. It further alleged that funds misappropriated during Zaev’s time in office are now being used to finance private business ventures abroad.
“They claimed to be saving North Macedonia, but in fact they were saving themselves and their millions,” the party said.
The allegations resurfaced after former Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski — who fled to Hungary in 2018 and was granted asylum — claimed on social media that Zaev had begun construction of an 82-storey tower in Dubai, estimated at over 600 million euros ($640 million). He accused Zaev of smuggling cash via private jet into the UAE and laundering it through bank accounts in the Gulf state.
Gruevski, a fugitive from a two-year prison sentence for corruption, further alleged that Zaev was planning similar ventures in another Asian country, and tied him to corruption cases in energy, pharmaceuticals and the COVID-19 response.
The claims follow a video that surfaced online in late 2024, allegedly showing Zaev and Filipče at a luxury party at the Hilton hotel in Dubai on October 25–26. Serbian media outlets described it as one of the most extravagant events in the city, with ticket prices in the hundreds of euros.
Zaev, who served as prime minister from 2017 to 2020 and briefly in 2021, has not responded publicly to the accusations. Filipče and the SDSM have also remained silent.
