VMRO-DPMNE spokesman Naum Stoilkovski asked Zoran Zaev how was it possible that he was pranked despite having 56 personal advisers in the Government.

Let me repeat that number – fifty six advisers! And the Prime Ministers steps into it three times in a row? Dane Taleski, Bojan Maricic, Zabrcanec, Bojarovski, Ivanna, Mersel Bilali.. Is there anybody out there?, Stoilkovski wrote, naming some of Zaev’s top advisers in the areas of foreign policy and media.

Zaev agreed to talk to Russian pranksters Vovan and Lexus three times in a row, over almost a year, revealing sensitive information about Balkan affairs, agreeing to engage in corruption and giving them the private numbers of US diplomats and regional leaders.