Macedonia’s interior ministry has decided not to approve the request from opposition leader and ex-prime minister Nikola Gruevski for at least 20 more bodyguards. Gruevski says he fears for his life.
Gruevski, leader of the biggest opposition party VMRO-DPMNE, is the first former prime minister to ask to be assigned additional bodyguards by the state police. There is speculation that Gruevski's fears may stem from his alleged connections to criminal structures, as revealed by the investigations launched by the Special Prosecutor's Office (SPO), an institution tasked with probing high-level crime.
Interior Minister Oliver Spasovski said on September 12 that Gruevski has six bodyguards, which is enough to provide security for the ex-PM and his family, according to the ministry’s statement.
“Assessments showed that Gruevski's life is not threatened so there is no need the number of his bodyguards to be increased,” Spasovski said.
Gruevski was prime minister from August 2006 to January 2016.
EIB Global, the financial arm of the European Investment Bank (EIB) for activities beyond the EU, set a new record by investing €1.2bn in the Western Balkans in 2023, the EIB said on February 9. ... ... more
This Southeast Europe Outlook 2024 has been prepared by bne IntelliNews as part of a series of annual reviews providing updates on the geopolitical, macroeconomic and commercial state of ... more
The total loan portfolio of North Macedonia’s commercial banks expanded by an annual 5.3% at the end of October to MKD437.7bn (€7.1bn), slowing slightly from a 5.8% y/y increase in the previous ... more