In an interview with the Bulgarian BGNES news outlet Zoran Zaev denied reports that Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov interevened with him over the racketeering of businessman Jordan Orce Kamcev.

Boyko Boriov did not call me over the Macedonian businessman Orce Kamcev, who is under an investigation. He would not do such a thing, he’s a European Prime Minister and he respects the rule of law, Zaev told BGNES.

Kamcev, who has extensive business interests in banking, farming, construction and healthcare in both countries, is also a Bulgarian honorary consul in Macedonia. He was the target of a money laundering investigation by now disgraced Special Prosecutor Katica Janeva, who allegedly extorted 1.5 million EUR from him promising that she will eventually drop the charges. Kamcev apparently recorded the conversations he had with an intermediary, and Janeva herself, and a number of media outlets reported that he received help from a “friendly” country, which provided surveillance materials and even a security detail. Many have speculated that this country is Bulgaria.