Macedonian Government Water Deal with Kozuvchanka Draws Opposition Criticism

Kozuvchanka Gostivar water Hristian Mickoski public tender SDSM

The Macedonian government signed a €100,000 contract to supply bottled drinking water to residents of Gostivar. The agreement was concluded through direct negotiation by the Service for General and Joint Works, without a public tender, and was awarded to the company Kozuvchanka, which is owned by the mayor of Kavadarci.

Opposition parties, led by the Social Democratic Union of Macedonia (SDSM), allege the deal is a cronyism transaction and claim that citizens have been drinking contaminated water for weeks, causing health problems. The government refutes the accusations, stating the 1.5‑liter bottles were purchased at 12.5 denars each—half the usual retail price—thanks to Kozuvchanka’s own contribution, and pledges to provide 50,000 litres of free bottled water daily until water quality is officially confirmed safe.

Entities

Gostivar · Hristian Mickoski · Ivica Tomovski · Kozhuvchanka · Kozuvchanka · LSDM · Mayor of Kavadarci · Mitko Jançev · SDSM · Service for General and Joint Works · Social Democratic Union of Macedonia (SDSM)

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 7 SOURCES] The contract was awarded to the company Kozuvchanka, owned by the mayor of Kavadarci municipality. zoom.mk · aktuale.mk · denesen.mk · portalb.mk · www.slobodenpecat.mk
[● 7 SOURCES] SDSM alleges the deal is a cronyism business transaction. zoom.mk · aktuale.mk · denesen.mk · portalb.mk · www.slobodenpecat.mk
[● 7 SOURCES] The Macedonian government signed a contract worth €100,000 to supply drinking water to Gostivar. zoom.mk · aktuale.mk · denesen.mk · portalb.mk · www.slobodenpecat.mk
[● 7 SOURCES] The contract was awarded without a public tender. zoom.mk · aktuale.mk · denesen.mk · portalb.mk · www.slobodenpecat.mk
[● 6 SOURCES] Opposition parties claim residents of Gostivar drank contaminated water for weeks, causing health problems. zoom.mk · aktuale.mk · denesen.mk · portalb.mk · www.slobodenpecat.mk
[● 4 SOURCES] The government states the 1.5‑liter bottled water price was 12.5 denars, half the usual retail price of at least 25 denars. racin.mk · denesen.mk · www.slobodenpecat.mk
[● 7 SOURCES] The procurement was conducted by the Service for General and Joint Works through direct negotiation. zoom.mk · aktuale.mk · denesen.mk · portalb.mk · www.slobodenpecat.mk · +1 more
[○ 1 SOURCE] The government pledged to supply 50,000 litres of free bottled water daily until water quality is officially confirmed safe. racin.mk