VMRO-DPMNE Secretary General Igor Janusev hinted that the newly revealed scandal regarding the Government’s attempt to block a pharmaceutical business deal is just the start of something much deeper.

Healthcare Minister Venko Filipce and the head of the FZO public healthcare fund Dan Doncev were accused by the owner of the dialysis provider Diamed that they tried to block the sale of her company to the Swedish Diaverum for 11.5 million EUR. The two kept pressuring the Swedish company, threatening it with a criminal investigation against Diamed and its owner Vera Ivanova, to the point that it became apparent that Doncev and Filipce are asking for bribes, media have reported.

This is a new racketeering scandal, with Filipce and Doncev in the starring roles. The charges against them are supported by communication between the Minister, the Swedish investor and the Swedish Ambassador, and they clearly point out that Doncev and Filipce tried to obstruct a foreign investment in Macedonia with the goal of making personal financial gains. It is rumored that the case is about to get to much higher levels of the Government. We ask, what was the involvement of the other members of Zaev’s criminal Government?, Janusev said.

The opposition party official said that he doubts the investigation in this case will be conducted transparently. “It is to be expected that the Ruskoska led prosecutor’s office will try to cover up the scandal, just like they do in the racketeering investigation. We tell them that all will be held accountable. Within months”, Janusev warned.