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EU demands Hungary explain why ex-Macedonia PM granted asylum

Ersin Çelik
12:11 - 21/11/2018 Wednesday
Update: 12:12 - 21/11/2018 Wednesday
REUTERS
Macedonia's former prime minister Nikola Gruevski
Macedonia's former prime minister Nikola Gruevski

Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban needs to offer a "sound explanation" of his country's decision to grant political asylum to the former Macedonian prime minister, the European Union's head of membership bids tweeted on Wednesday.

Nikola Gruevski, who fled Macedonia after being sentenced to two years in prison on corruption-related charges, said on Tuesday that he had been granted political asylum in Hungary.

Johannes Hahn, the European commissioner responsible for EU enlargement negotiations, tweeted that he had seen reports about the asylum granted in EU member Hungary.

"If confirmed, I expect a sound explanation of its grounds by @Viktor_Orban," his tweet read.

Macedonia was officially recognised as a candidate to join the EU in 2005, but has not started accession talks.

#Nikola Gruevski
#EU
#Hungary
#Macedonia
5 years ago