Pendarovski: There must be Responsibility for “Racketeering” Case

The President of Macedonia Stevo Pendarovski addressed the nation via a press conference on Monday. Pendarovski commented on the recent events related to the “Racketeering” case and the recordings published by Italian newspaper “La Verita”. “We are witnesses of a major affair which is shaking the pillars of important state institutions. I must say that I am disappointed with all I have heard so far, and I am shocked how the public prosecutors decided to go on summer holidays in times like these, when we are dealing with one of the greatest criminal affairs in the country. I am also disappointed with all I have heard in relation with the Head of Special Public Prosecution (SPO) Katica Janeva. However, I am convinced that SPO should keep on working and processing cases, because the individual responsibility of one prosecutor does not mean that all who work in that particular institutions are also corrupted. All who are involved in this case, be them from the government or the opposition, must take responsibility for their criminal activities,” Pendarovski said, calling on the judicial institutions of Macedonia to resolve the case as soon as possible. Answering journalists’ questions, Pendarovski denied the claims that university professor Ana Cupeska-Staniskoska is employed as his advisor. Cupeska-Staniskoska in comments of her connected the recordings to the Deputy PM of Italy Matteo Salvini and called him a kleptomaniac and fascist. “This is not a matter of support of the left or the right. Cupeska-Staniskoska is not an advisor of mine. The source publishing these claims, VMRO-DPMNE Antonijo Milososki knows very well that she does not work in my office. Still, that’s his ultimate agenda, spreading fake news, as we have seen many times before,” Pendarovski said.