Lefkov: Prosecutor's decision not to press charges is not proof Venko Filipche is innocent

Mile Lefkov, a member of VMRO‑DPMNE's central committee and an MP, sharply criticized Venko Filipche today and urged him to stay silent on health issues while noting Filipche's political ties to Zoran Zaev and SDSM.

Accusations over modular hospitals and prosecution

At a press conference Lefkov targeted the conduct around the procurement and installation of modular hospitals, insisting the investigation outcome does not clear Filipche. He said that the decision by prosecutors not to file charges does not equate to exoneration.

"Prosecutor Islam Abazi is blind to the evidence," Lefkov said, adding that "The failure to bring charges is not proof that Filipche is innocent."

Lefkov claimed the Tetovo modular-hospital case shows Filipche ignored the views of staff at the Ministry of Health and of technical experts, and that ministry employees believed wrongdoing occurred in connection with the 19 modular hospitals.

"Because from the case over the modular [hospital] in Tetovo, it is clear that Filipche was not at all interested in the opinion of the employees in the Ministry of Health and the experts. The employees were clear that Filipche committed a crime in the case of the 19 modular hospitals," Lefkov said.

He also warned of procedural failures during procurement and installation and linked the decisions made to patient harm, saying: "Ladies and gentlemen, we are witnessing a series of failures in the procedure and the very installation of the modular hospitals. At the same time, the only fact is that Filipche did not desist from his idea. And we all know that the result of that was 14 patients burned in the modular facility in Tetovo."

Finally, Lefkov challenged political rivals on their stated concern for public health, calling on the opposition "to stop saying that it cares about citizens' health."

Photo: press material from the event