Zhernovski: Vučić’s media model is spreading to Macedonia, Mickoski seeks control of information

Andrej Zhernovski, secretary for international cooperation at the Social Democratic Union of Macedonia (SDSM), said that a scenario for controlling the media space has begun to be implemented in Macedonia, similar to the one he says is used by Aleksandar Vučić in Serbia.

He said he had warned about this development two months ago, describing the situation as an operation to create media darkness under Vučić’s direct patronage and leadership.

Zhernovski announced that the sale of Adria News Network’s media outlets to the investment group Alpac Capital was completed in Serbia the previous day. The network includes N1, Nova, Radar, Forbes Serbia and Danas.

According to him, Alpac Capital has close ties to Viktor Orbán, for whom it has served as a partner, adviser and friend. Zhernovski recalled that in 2022 the group bought a majority stake in Euronews, while it was later reported that €45 million of the transaction had been secured by a Hungarian state fund and €12.5 million through a company linked to the Hungarian government’s communications operations.

“These are not isolated business deals, but a plan aimed at gaining full control of the media space in our country. This model has been established in Serbia and is now being applied here as well,” he said, adding that the acquisition of the license for Macedonia’s third mobile operator by the Hungarian company 4iG was not a coincidence.

Zhernovski stressed that this issue should be treated as a much more serious development than an ordinary political or economic matter. He said the presence of media outlets from the “Serbian world,” which he considers close to Vučić’s government, is expanding.

He also referred to reports from Brussels over the past two years, including those by the European Parliament and the European Commission, which discuss the existence and influence of the “Serbian world” in Macedonia.

According to information from the SDSM, one of the scenarios envisages the ALO group entering Macedonia’s television market, with the possibility of acquiring ownership of Nasha TV. In this process, Zhernovski said, Ivana Taleska is expected to play an important role through the Euronews project, which began in September.

Zhernovski also mentioned Latas, whom he described as an implementer of Mickoski’s policies. He claimed that the authorities were pursuing this approach to avoid questions about crimes, tenders and the lack of reforms, at a time when, according to him, the country has no European perspective.

“The aim is for citizens to hear only one version of the truth, the one that will be presented to them as the only possible one. Unfortunately, the country is heading toward media darkness and a ‘democratic’ life without free media, without criticism and without the truth,” he said.

In conclusion, Zhernovski asked whether it was now clear why Mučunski had given an interview specifically to Euronews. He stressed that, in his view, this was not merely about ownership of a television station or news portal, but about general control of the country’s public space.