Former Finance Minister Boris Stojmenov was charged with obstructing police officers and building inspectors, during an incident at his construction site in downtown Skopje last week. Stojmenov claimed that the municipal authorities of Centar are asking him to pay a bribe of million EUR so that he can continue construction.

Stojmenov took over one of the Communist era shopping malls, the so-called Beko mall, and operated it as a hotel. Several years ago the businessman, who owns Kanal 5 TV, had it demolished and is building it anew, in significantly greater proportions. In February, he was ordered to stop construction and to demolish the base of the structure that is already built.

They’re asking me to pay a bribe. A million EUR. I’m not paying, Stojmenov shouted as he tried to prevent the police officers from expelling his construction workers from the site.

Centar Mayor Sasa Bogdanovic said that he will take action against Stojmenov for slander unless he publicly apologizes for his claim. “If somebody asked him to pay a bribe he needs to report it to state prosecutors. And if he doesn’t, he must apologize”, Bogdanovic said.

Stojmenov was Finance Minister in the Ljubco Georgievski Government, but did not complete his term, as he moved to try and bring the Government down from the inside. On top of his consulting business, he built Kanal 5 into the second best watched TV station in Macedonia, as well as building up a reputation for frequently changing political sides.