Vice Zaev, the brother of Prime Minister Zoran Zaev, denied media reports that a company caught smuggling designer clothing brands into Macedonia, is linked to his business empire.

A truck carrying goods by a company named Vineks Textile from Strumica was stopped near Skopje. Infomax reported that the drivers of the truck were employed by Sakaov Trans from Strumica. Both companies were named as linked to the Zaev family by the opposition VMRO-DPMNE party, which revealed a tax evasion scheme involving them before the July elections.

I absolutely claim that I have no ties to that company. I’m not the owner, or co-owner, or shareholder. I know the owner Krmzov, but that doesn’t make me its owner. Strumica is a small city and we are all friends there. But I have no links to the company, Vice Zaev said.