In an interview, VMRO-DPMNE Vice President Aleksandar Nikoloski alleged that Macedonian Prime Minister Zoran Zaev promised his Bulgarian counterpart the right to take over five major businesses in Macedonia. Nikoloski named only one of the businesses in question – the huge Ilovica copper and gold mine near Zaev’s home town of Strumica that was being developed by a Canadian company before its permit was withdrawn.

It is obvious that Zaev has been promising business opportunities to Borisov. That is evident from their relationship. Zaev promised that he will allow Bulgarian capital to enter into the Ilovica mine, which recently, as if by magic, changed its ownership. He also promised a national TV station, shares in a mobile operator, a bank and the right to use the fiber-optic cable owned by a company. This is what Zaev personally promised to Borisov, Nikoloski said.