Prosecution Appeals Gruevski’s Acquittal in “Talir 2” Case

The Skopje Basic Public Prosecutor’s Office has appealed the first-instance ruling that acquitted the defendants in the “Talir 2” case, which concerns the construction of the VMRO-DPMNE headquarters.

According to the Prosecutor’s Office, after receiving the first-instance judgment, the prosecutor handling the case filed the appeal within the legally prescribed deadline.

Less than a month ago, the Criminal Court acquitted former Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski, who was charged in “Talir 2” over the illegal construction of the VMRO-DPMNE headquarters. Explaining the decision, Judge Daniela Aleksovska-Stojanovska said the judgment was a consequence of the 2023 amendments to the Criminal Code, which, in her assessment, had significantly affected the elements of the criminal offense.

Under the time limits currently in force, the statute of limitations in the case expires at the end of August. For this reason, no other judicial outcome is expected apart from a finding that the case is time-barred. Nevertheless, the possibility remains open for potential proceedings aimed at confiscating the VMRO-DPMNE building, known as the “White Palace.”

Three years ago, the case had taken a different course: under the first-instance conviction, Gruevski was sentenced to six years in prison, Kiril Bozhinovski received a suspended sentence, and the confiscation of the party’s property was also ordered. Following the amendments to the Criminal Code, the Court of Appeal later overturned that decision and ordered a retrial from the beginning.

In the meantime, the prosecution of Kiril Bozhinovski was discontinued because the offense had become time-barred, while the proceedings against Gruevski and the political party continued.