SDSM demands dismissal of Ivan Stoilković after event with Milica Đurđević‑Stamenkovski

The opposition Social Democratic Union of Macedonia (SDSM) demanded the immediate removal of Ivan Stoilković from his post as Minister of Local Self-Government, accusing him of participating in a campaign event for Serbian politics and of promoting a pro-Serbian, pro-Russian agenda.

Photos, a Facebook post and sharp accusations

SDSM said Stoilković attended an event in Bitola together with Milica Đurđević-Stamenkovski, a member of the Zavetnici party and a minister in Serbia’s caretaker government. The party published photographs from the gathering and argued that his presence amounted to support for former Serbian president Aleksandar Vučić, who leads the "United Serbia" list and is a candidate for prime minister in the snap parliamentary elections scheduled for 25 October.

On her Facebook account Đurđević-Stamenkovski wrote that she and Stoilković, members of the Serbian diplomatic corps and associations that "nurture our historical heritage from Serbia and Montenegro" marked the 110th ascent of Kajmakčalan — which she described as one of the greatest battles in the history of the Serbian people during World War I. In the post she wrote: "Centuries will pass, but the memory of our glorious ancestors — never!"

SDSM criticised Đurđević-Stamenkovski as an outspoken opponent of NATO, saying she denies that a genocide took place in Srebrenica and defends Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The party quoted her saying that "in Srebrenica no genocide occurred," and called that position contrary to final rulings of international courts.

In its statement SDSM also accused Stoilković of cooperating with Serbian security services and of taking part in activity that effectively aids the campaign of a sister party to VMRO-DPMNE in another country. The party listed wider allegations about cross-border electoral influence — including organising transport to a rally in Belgrade and registering Macedonian citizens to vote from Serbian territory — and framed Stoilković’s attendance as further proof of those practices.

Responding to the accusations, SDSM demanded urgent dismissal: "SDSM calls for the immediate removal of Ivan Stoilković. He is a minister who works for someone else's campaign, someone else's service and someone else's cash. There is an army behind him that holds him. Let the gang take him home. The state is not a playground for Vučić, nor a stage for praising Mladić," the party said.

Photo: Arhiva