SDSM urges prosecutor Saveski to act and impose precautionary measures on central bank governor
Opposition filed complaints against governor Trajko Slaveski and asked the prosecutor to seek temporary bans to protect witnesses and evidence.
The Social Democratic Union (SDSM) urged State Public Prosecutor Nenad Saveski to immediately open proceedings on several criminal complaints the party filed against National Bank governor Trajko Slaveski and other bank officials, and to impose precautionary measures — including a temporary ban on exercising office — to prevent witness tampering and destruction of evidence.
At a press briefing, SDSM Executive Board member Jon Frckoski said: "Trajko Slaveski himself admitted — he gave permission for a bank that, according to information in Serbia, served to launder money illegally acquired through crime and corruption. The latest information is that there are suspicions about printing money. Slaveski publicly admitted that the decision for Alta Bank was made in consultation with Mickoski. Therefore SDSM filed a criminal complaint against him and against all involved in bringing Alta Bank into Macedonia. Now it's up to Prosecutor Saveski to immediately act on the criminal complaint."
SDSM filed the complaints against Slaveski and other officials of the National Bank of North Macedonia over the decision to allow Alta Bank to operate in the country. The party said prosecutors must move quickly and apply the law to ensure documents and testimony remain intact.
Frckoski also accused Prime Minister and VMRO‑DPMNE leader Hristijan Mickoski of exerting pressure on the prosecution in the Alta Bank case, and warned of the regional consequences of failing to act: "We see in Serbia what is happening with prosecutors who blindly followed Vucic's orders. Arrests are expected of the main prosecutors who served the organized criminal group and Vucic's regime. Therefore Saveski must show that he works independently and according to the law."
The opposition repeated its allegation that Mickoski misled lawmakers during a parliamentary oversight session about Alta Bank and called for a swift and forceful response from the Prosecutor's Office.
Separately, the statement quoted Filipche: "Mickoski brutally lies – the government's decision from 2023 was not to establish business relations with Alta Bank."
Photo: SDSM
