• Monday, 08 July 2024

Osmani hints at Russian influence over N. Macedonia politics 

Osmani hints at Russian influence over N. Macedonia politics 
Skopje, 16 September 2022 (MIA) - Foreign Minister Bujar Osmani confirmed Friday that he has information about Russian influence being exerted on the political life in the country through certain sources of funding. "Our analyses suggest such a thing, which has been already concluded on several occasions - that there are attempts for meddling in the partisan and political life in North Macedonia, but these questions should be answered by the competent institutions," Osmani said responding to a journalist's question at today's press briefing. Commenting on the opposition party Levica’s announced move to launch a new referendum initiative, Osmani called it “a party in function of the Russian propaganda to turn the Macedonian people against the EU and the United States.” “I believe they will do no major harm to the country because there is a consensus over the course taken, but they might harm the people they are representing trying to turn them against the values we’re sharing. We shouldn't fall victim to the propaganda that is partly funded and has very bad intentions towards the people and the country,” he told the briefing. North Macedonia so far has declared 11 Russian diplomats as persona non grata. Russia has spent at least $300 million to interfere in the politics of over 20 countries since 2014, Josh Rudolph, an expert at the German Marshall Fund, has told Voice of America in Serbian commenting on a new declassified report by the American intelligence services. The countries included in the efforts for covert financing by Russia include Albania, BiH, Montenegro, Belgium and Madagascar. Although not mentioned in the report, Rudolph also named North Macedonia.