The AVMU media regulator condemned the practice of the Zaev Government to covertly hire journalists as advisers to the Prime Minister. Several journalists were listed among Zaev’s advisers, a list which caused much criticism in the public.

The role of the media is to criticize and monitor the Government. In this light, it is necessary that editors, journalists and other authors pay attention to their independence when forming the editoriual policy. Reporting should be objective and unbiased, and cover various points of view, the media regulator said.

The list includes Ljubisa Stankovik, from the pro-Zaev TV24, and Georgi Kalajdziev from the VIS TV station in Zaev’s stronghold of Strumica. Kalajdziev is better known as host of the Valandovo folk festival. As opposition leader Zaev promised to ensure media independence, but in his term he used the judiciary to pressure changes to the editorial policies of some of the leading TV stations, and had a critical TV station shut down, as well as four best read newspapers and magazines.

Most criticized advisers from the recently published list include an incredibly unqualified adviser for economic relations with France and the Benelux countries and a little known man who Zaev claims is close to Emmanuel Macron and will help ensure the French approval for opening EU accession talks.