Macedonia Prosecution Seeks Ex-PM Gruevski's Arrest

The Special Prosecution, SJO on Thursday announced charges in 17 cases, demanding the arrest of former premier Nikola Gruevski, former Interior Minister Gordana Jankuloska, former Transport Minister Mile Janakieski, former government secretary-general Kiril Bozinovski and Gruevski's former cabinet chief Martin Protugjer.

All of them were indicted on Thursday for masterminding and participating in an election fraud.

The SJO also demanded detention for Gruevski's cousin and former secret police chief Saso Mijalkov in relation to the cases codenamed "Target" and "Tvrdina" [fortress], former Culture Minister Elizabeta Kanceska Milevska in relation to the case codenamed "Tender" and former Vice Prime Minister Vladimir Pesevski, indicted in the case "Traektorija" [trajectory].

In addition, the SJO also demanded detention for the mayor of Skopje's Gazi Baba municipality, Toni Trajkovski, and for the editor of Sitel TV, Dragan Pavlovic, who is charged with tax evasion.

The SJO pressed charges in 17 cases at two days before the expiry of its July 1 deadline for raising charges. 

The total number of newly-indicted people today is 94, while charges have also been raised against seven legal entities.

SJO chief Katica Janeva told a press conference in Skopje that despite the expiry of the deadline for raising charges, its work in investigating the ongoing and new cases will continue throughout the next three years, as the Law on Special Prosecution envisages.

Gruevski Reacted Angrily to the Indictments

"This is a classic political and anti-Macedonian construction" aimed at taking down some 100 people from the VMRO DPMNE's top leadership, he told a press conference.

"The historical...