Kuzeska: Serbian media network began operating in Macedonia in a suspicious way

SDSM spokesperson Bogdanka Kuzeska today assessed that the Serbian media network has started operating in Macedonia in a suspicious manner and called for clarification from regulators after a crew from "Euronews Macedonia" attended a government press conference without apparent permission.

As she said, two days ago a crew from "Euronews Macedonia" attended a press conference at the Government, which raises the question about the treatment of this media outlet by the institutions.

SDSM demands answers from the Agency for Audio and Audiovisual Media Services and the Financial Police

"How are they attending when they still do not have a permit to operate? Obviously Mickoski's Government is already treating 'Euronews Macedonia' as a television station and is allowing it access to official government events. Wasn't an investigation announced into the suspicious entry of the Serbian media machinery into Macedonia? After reactions from Macedonian television stations it was announced that the Financial Police opened a case, and the Agency for Audio and Audiovisual Media Services stopped the procedure. Does that mean the investigation has been halted and is being conducted under the radar? How do Vučić's media operate in Macedonia? What is the AVMU doing? Or are they turning a blind eye? What is Trajchevski doing? Does he know that media pirates roam in the supposedly regulated space and that he could be criminally liable for that?"

Kuzeska expressed suspicion that media connected to Serbian president Aleksandar Vučić are already present in the Macedonian airwaves and that the spread of their messages carries anti‑Macedonian and anti‑EU rhetoric.

She warned that the consistent policies of Mickoski and his associates, as she said, lead to increased influence of foreign media and announced a possible "media darkness" which, according to SDSM, will be in the service of Russia and "the organized criminal group of Mickoski". Kuzeska added that the party gives full support to independent media and journalists and recalled the fight against media darkness in 2015, emphasizing that they will not allow a return to the days of Nikola Gruevski.

At the same time, the party also pointed out that "Macedonia is first in Europe in the number of West Nile fever cases relative to population."

Photo: SDSM