Macedonian ex-prime minister and opposition leader Nikola Gruevski is seeking at least 20 more bodyguards from the state police, as he says he fears his life is threatened.

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 to probe high-level crime.

Gruevski asked the police to re-assess his security situation due to his fears of “a high degree of danger” for his life and personal security, broadcaster 24vesti reported on July 16 citing a statement sent by his party. The statement did not specify from where the threat came. 

The interior ministry has confirmed to bne IntelliNews that Gruevski asked for additional guards. “The interior ministry has received such a request and will examine it,” the press office of the ministry said in a short notice e-mailed to bne IntelliNews on July 17. Details were not given.

Former police official Ljubomir Gjurcevski was cited by 24vesti as saying that Gruevski’s fears may came from connections between politics and criminal structures, which were brought to light after the investigations launched by the SPO.

“Gruevski is among those suspected, which implies that he can be connected with some criminal structures,” Gjurcevski was cited. For example, Gruevski could have been threatened by a business lobby to which lucrative tenders were awarded, or for accepting bribes.

Gruevski has been indicted in several cases including in the Titanic case, which has seen charges brought against him for criminal association and election bribery.

Indictments were recently filed against Gruevski in two other cases, Tank and TNT. The TNT investigation relates to the demolition of a €58mn residential complex in Skopje which was owned by Gruevski's political rival, while Tank concerns the purchase of a Mercedes worth over half a million euros for Gruevski using state funds. 

Early in July a Skopje court rejected a request from special prosecutors for Gruevski’s detention, but ordered his passport to be seized.

However, Gjurcevski also said that threats could come from cases related to the gun battle between police and a terrorist group in Kumanovo in May 2015, which left 22 dead including several police officers, or the earlier attack on a police station in Gosince. 

Despite Gruevski’s request, according to Gjurcevski there is no ground for the police to assign additional guardians to the former prime minister. 

“He already has six bodyguards, which are more than enough to take care for his security,” Gjurcevski was cited as saying, adding that the ex-PM can hire his own party’s personal protectors, but not bodyguards from the state police.

Former prime ministers used to have only three bodyguards for one year after being in office. However, legal amendments endorsed four years ago allow ex-PMs to use six state bodyguards after the termination of their position, which also applies to Gruevski.