Zoran Zaev held a press conference today to insist that the conversation he had with Russian pranksters, during which he revealed sensitive information and agreed to engage in crime, is not grounds for his resignation. Zaev played the victim during the press conference.

Why do you think that was done and there should be responsibility. The damage is in that the Prime Minister of the Republic of “North Macedonia” was recorded, and I simply repeat official positions during the conversations. If I have stepped away from these positions I apologize, but I don’t think I should bear responsibility. These kinds of things happen in far more organized countries than our own. I don’t believe this is an issue the Prime Minister should resign over, Zaev said during the press conference.

In the conversation with the Russian pranksters Vovan and Lexus, Zaev agrees to pay a bribe of 100.000 to Patriarch Bartholomew and discusses rigging the September 2018 referendum.