The Prime Minister’s media adviser Marjan Zabrcanec could not explain how the government is acting to suppress the spreading of fake news coming from SDSM party headquarters.

On several specific questions that Republika asked regarding the news SDSM member from the Prilep Municipal Organization, Viktor Azmanoski, as editor-in-chief of the website “Revolucioner.press”, published that VMRO-DPMNE leader Hristijan Mickoski in an apartment in Budapest received a million and six hundred thousand euros and strict instructions from Russian diplomats, Zabrcanec encouraged us to stand on the side of democracy.

Adviser Zabrcanec did not resist the practice of government officials publicly publishing answers to Republika’s journalistic questions, so before we published this article, far from ethical norms, they were already on Facebook. For the advisor to gain confidence in us, and to make sure we are on the same side of democracy, we convey our questions and his answer.

Zabrcanec’s answer

The Government of the Republic of North Macedonia opposes and acts to suppress the creation of fake news and its organized spread aimed at misinforming the population. To this end, the Government has put forward a draft action plan to tackle misinformation, in which all actors in society, within their competencies, are called upon to take responsibility and oppose this negative phenomenon in our democracy. The action plan measures are publicly available and frequently presented and discussed in the public, including raising awareness, introduction of media literacy in education, support for the self-regulation process in the news portals, and collaboration with professional media organizations and fact-checking services. We encourage your news portal and all the media in our country who may have doubts about whether to stand on the side of democracy, to find reasons and ways to join this initiative of democratic forces in a society that opposes the intentions to manipulate citizens. The fight against fake news in our country is authentic and comprehensive and makes no difference in political, party or any other affiliation.

Republika’s questions  that remained unanswered

1. Fake news related to the work of the Government or of some government officials have been increasingly publicized in the last month, but there has been no response from the Government. The government or government officials have so far reacted to news published in Republika and labeled them as fake news, but are now silent. Does silence mean that the fight against fake news is false, unprincipled and selective?

2. Has the Action group for coordination of state institutions to combat misinformation and attacks on democracy started working and how and when the flood of fake news will be addressed, including the latest over the alleged bribery of opposition leader Hristijan Mickoski.