Macedonia to seek extradition of ex-PM from Hungary

By Talha Ozturk

BELGRADE, Serbia (AA) - Macedonia is set request the extradition of former prime minister who requested political asylum in Hungary, justice minister said on Tuesday.

The official extradition request for the former Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski is ready to be submitted to the Hungarian authorities during the day, Justice Minister Renata Deskoska told the reporters.

Gruevski, who was sentenced to two years in prison and prosecuted for four more trials and more investigations into crime and corruption while in power, escaped to Hungary and sought political asylum.

"All investigative and pre-trial procedures will also be covered,” Deskoska said, adding that there are legal grounds to make him stand trial if he is extradited.

She added that the request would be sent even if the asylum application was approved for Gruevski.

The former prime minister left Macedonia illegally on November 11th and arrived in Hungary through Albania, Montenegro and Serbia, with the help of Hungarian diplomatic staff in those countries.