The Ministry of Justice in North Macedonia announced on Monday that it is seeking the extradition from Hungary of the former Prime Minister, Nikola Gruevski.

On November 13, 2018, Gruevski escaped to Hungary, while a few days later he announced that the authorities in Budapest had approved his request for political asylum, due to, as he said, “the political persecution by the Government of the then Prime Minister of Macedonia of North Zoran Zaev”.

His claims have been dismissed by the Macedonian government, which wants Gruevski to serve several prison terms.

The former Macedonian prime minister must face 12 and a half years of imprisonment for two final judgments and one of the first degree, but also with several court processes that are ongoing.