Skopje, 3 November 2023 (MIA) – The Skopje-based Criminal Court decided Friday to stop proceedings in the case dubbed “Trajectory” after a proposal from the Public Prosecutor’s Office and as a result of the amendments to the Criminal Code.

“At the proposal of the PPO and due to the amendments to the Criminal Code, the Court decided to stop proceedings against defendants Vladimir Peshevski, Mile Janakieski and Ljupcho Georgievski for the crime of ‘abuse of official position and authorization’, as well as the indictment against Nikola Gruevski for ‘accepting a reward for unlawful influence’,” said the President of the Court Council, Judge Ilija Trpkov.

The costs for the proceedings, according to the decision of the Council, will fall on the state.

At today’s hearing, Prosecutor Lile Stefanova requested that the indictment against Nikola Gruevski be withdrawn due to the expiration of the statute of limitations, as well as the procedure against the other three defendants be stopped due to the amendments to the Criminal Code.

The case dubbed “Trajectory” concerned the company selection procedure for the construction of the Miladinovci – Shtip and Kichevo – Ohrid motorways. According to the Prosecution, during the second half of 2012, and 2013, the defendants overstepped their powers, thereby causing damages to the State Budget of at least EUR 155 million.

The case was led by Judge Ilija Trpkov, with Prosecutor Lile Stefanova representing the Prosecution.

Photo: MIA Archive