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7 clusters · 37 sources · 41 days · First seen about 2 months ago · Last updated 7 days ago

North Macedonia State Lottery contract and corruption probe

Overview

The North Macedonian State Lottery continues to face scrutiny regarding its contract with Avalon and its subsidiary, Stardust, to organize the 35th anniversary of national independence. While government spokesperson Marija Miteva and State Lottery Director Aleksandar Klimovski maintained that the 300 million denars used for the festivities—including a performance by David Guetta—were sourced from the lottery’s undistributed profits rather than the state budget, the opposition SDSM has challenged the administration’s economic narrative. The SDSM accused the government of increasing public debt by approximately 4 billion euros over two years while demanding transparency regarding the use of lottery funds.

An investigation has been launched by the State Commission for Prevention of Corruption into the financing of the anniversary celebrations. The probe focuses on the funds provided by the State Lottery to Stardust and a potential conflict of interest involving Nikolče Micevski, the chairman of the external commission responsible for evaluating the event program.

Legal investigations have expanded to include broader financial mismanagement. Prosecutors have charged the head of the finance sector and the head of financial affairs with embezzling approximately 80 million denars. Additionally, the Levica party has alleged that the lottery has been used as a political tool, citing payments to influencers and associations linked to relatives of security personnel. The VLEN party further criticized the government for using lottery revenues to fund celebrations despite previous opposition to gambling.

Recent audits by the State Audit Office have identified significant irregularities in five gambling companies partially owned by the State Lottery. Findings include discrepancies in capital contributions, the bypassing of public procurement laws through internal regulations, and a lack of documentation for marketing expenses. Management stated they have initiated measures to address these inherited irregularities.

Entities

State Lottery · Hristijan Mickoski · State Lottery of North Macedonia · Levica · Avalon

Claims

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

[DISPUTED] Venko Filipče accused the government of misusing funds for the 35th independence anniversary celebrations.
[DISPUTED] Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski previously claimed the events cost citizens zero denars.
[● 3 SOURCES] The independence celebrations cost approximately 5 million euros.
[● 3 SOURCES] The State Lottery, which is 100 percent state-owned, was tasked with organizing the program.
[● 3 SOURCES] The Financial Police Directorate and the Prosecutor's Office are conducting a new action regarding suspected abuses at the State Lottery.
[● 3 SOURCES] The former finance director of the State Lottery and one other person have been detained.
[● 3 SOURCES] The two detainees are suspected of misappropriating approximately 80 million denars.
[● 3 SOURCES] In a separate ongoing case, former director Perparim Bajrami and others are accused of causing 596 million denars in damage to the State Lottery during 2023 and 2024.
[● 2 SOURCES] The Levica political party claims the government is attempting to bypass legal procedures for fund disposal.
[● 2 SOURCES] The government is allegedly using a meeting minute to justify the allocation of 300 million denars to Geta.
[● 2 SOURCES] State Lottery Director Aleksandar Klimovski stated that government minutes are binding.
[○ 1 SOURCE] The government entrusted the organization of the celebration to the State Lottery on April 28.

Timeline

7 days ago

[BUSINESS] 9 sources
State Lottery of North Macedonia faces audit irregularities
A State Audit Office report reveals financial irregularities, procurement issues, and undocumented expenses within five gambling companies partially owned by the State Lottery of North Macedonia.
20 days ago

[CRIME] 6 sources
State Lottery investigation reveals embezzlement of 80 million denars
Two State Lottery employees in North Macedonia face charges for embezzling 80 million denars, while investigations continue into further cash leakages and controversial 300 million denar payments.
22 days ago

[CRIME] 4 sources
State Lottery former finance director arrested in North Macedonia
The former finance director of the State Lottery and another individual have been arrested in North Macedonia for the suspected misappropriation of 80 million denars.
about 1 month ago

[CULTURE] 3 sources
VLEN criticizes North Macedonia independence funding
The VLEN party has criticized the North Macedonian government for using state lottery profits to fund independence anniversary celebrations, alleging political hypocrisy.
about 1 month ago

[POLITICS] 4 sources
North Macedonia anti-corruption probe targets independence day funding
North Macedonia’s anti-corruption commission is investigating the State Lottery’s funding of independence day celebrations and potential conflicts of interest regarding event organizers.
about 2 months ago

[POLITICS] 3 sources
Levica party alleges State Lottery fund mismanagement
The Levica party has accused the State Lottery of North Macedonia of distributing millions in public funds to politically connected entities and companies linked to the Avalon group without transparency.
about 2 months ago

[POLITICS] 24 sources
North Macedonia faces political dispute over economic data and event funding
North Macedonia faces political disputes over economic claims and the 5 million euro funding of independence celebrations via State Lottery profits.

Sources

24-ore.com · 360stepeni.mk · a1on.mk · alfa.mk · almakos.com · antropol.mk · ernesthuska.blog.sme.sk · gazeta-nacional.com · gijotina.com · koha.mk · libertas.mk · lider.mk · lokalno.mk · makpress.mk · nezavisen.mk · novamakedonija.com.mk · ohridsky.com · portalb.mk · press24.mk · prv.mk · racin.mk · radiomof.mk · rtsh.al · sdsm.org.mk · shenja.tv · slobodenpecat.mk · tetova1.mk · tetovasot.com · tocka.com.mk · trn.mk · ts.mk · utrinskivesnik.mk · vesnik.com · vmro-dpmne.org.mk · vocentar.com · zhurnal.mk · zurnal.mk

This summary has been updated 9 times: see revision history