On Tuesday, the Criminal Court acquitted former VMRO-DPMNE leader and ex-PM Gruevski in the retrial over the Thaler 2 case, which concerned the construction of VMRO-DPMNE’s seat in Centar Municipality.
Judge Daniela Aleksovska-Stojanovska said that the verdict was a direct consequence of the 2023 changes to the Criminal Code, which, although seemingly minor at first glance, had essentially affected the elements of the act. She also pointed out that the Prosecutor’s Office had failed to adapt the charge to the legislative changes in the retrial and in its closing arguments.
Given that the statute of limitations over the case will expire in about a month, even a potential appeal filed to the Appellate Court will not change the final outcome, media have reported.