Skopje, 12 May 2023 (MIA) – The Basic Criminal Court acquitted former Minister of Culture Elizabeta Kancheska Milevska on Friday, declaring her not guilty of “abusing her power and official position”. 

Kancheska Milevska who was the principal defendant in the case related to the tender for the construction of the Museum of the Macedonian Struggle, as part of the Skopje 2014 project, and defendants Julijana Ugrinovska and Lidija Lazarova Cvetkovska, members of the Public Procurement Commission, were acquitted, because, according to the Court, the Prosecution failed to prove their guilt beyond reasonable doubt.

According to the charges, before the publishing of an announcement for a public procurement contract and a procedure, Kancheska Milevska held talks with Director General of Shtip-based construction company Beton, ordering that construction works continue on the Museum contrary to the Law on Public Procurements.

The process was led by Judge Osman Shabani, while the Prosecution was represented by Public Prosecutor Stevcho Donchev.