The expected extradition of Gruevski fuels political tensions in Skopje

The expected extradition of former North Macedonian Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski has triggered political tensions in Skopje, after the opposition accused the government of deliberately delaying the return of the fugitive ex-leader despite courts confirming that all required paperwork has already been completed.

“All documents necessary for the extradition of convicted former Prime Minister of the Republic of North Macedonia Nikola Gruevski have been submitted to the Ministry of Justice,” the Basic Criminal Court in Skopje said on 3 May.

Gruevski served as Prime Minister of North Macedonia for nearly a decade, from August 2006 to January 2016, and led the nationalist VMRO-DPMNE party between 2003 and 2017.

In November 2018, Gruevski fled North Macedonia to avoid serving a prison sentence linked to corruption convictions. He was granted political asylum in Hungary under the protection of ViktorOrbán’s government and has lived in Budapest ever since.

Two days ago, Justice Minister Igor Filipov said he was awaiting the formation of Hungary’s new government before formally informing Hungarian authorities that North Macedonia intends to seek the return of Gruevski. Hungary’s new government is expected to be formed on 9 May.

However, the opposition Social Democratic Union of Macedonia (SDSM) argues that Skopje has no legal grounds to postpone forwarding the judicial documents.

“These documents are now in the Ministry of Justice, yet the minister from ZNAM, Igor Filipov, who is part of Mickoski’s coalition, has failed to send them to Hungary,” SDSM said in a statement.
The party insists there is no justification for waiting for a new administration in Budapest, arguing that institutions should continue functioning and act without delay.

“(PM) Hristijan Mickoski and his government are consciously protecting Gruevski and giving him time to escape to a third country,” the opposition added.

Following his election victory, Péter Magyar, who is expected to become Hungary’s next prime minister, announced that he would initiate Gruevski’s extradition, stating that Hungary “will not serve as a dumping ground for foreign criminals”.

Magyar to Orbán’s refugees: Gruevski, Ziobro, Romanowski – pack your bags

Legal experts caution, however, that Gruevski’s asylum status cannot be revoked overnight. As long as the protection remains valid, extradition proceedings are unlikely to succeed. There is also speculation that Gruevski may already hold Hungarian citizenship, which could further complicate any legal process.

Gruevski has been convicted in several cases, including the illegal purchase of a luxury Mercedes-Benz vehicle in the “Tank” case, money laundering and unlawful property acquisition in the “Plots on Vodno” case, and incitement to violence in the “Violence in Centar Municipality” case. He also faces trials in absentia linked to the “Titanic” and “Talir 2” investigations.

Meanwhile, enforcement of the prison sentence in the “Tank” case expired under the statute of limitations in October 2024, following the expiry of deadlines stipulated under North Macedonia’s criminal code.

Last month, Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski told local media that if Gruevski were to return to the country, judicial authorities would act in accordance with court rulings and he would be sent to prison.