Toshkovski: There is no official confirmation of Gruby's whereabouts at present

Up to this point, no neighbouring state has submitted confirmation to Macedonia's MPB for the possible position of former Deputy Prime Minister Artan Grubi. So MPB chief Panche Toshkovski declared last night in an interview for televisionTelma, adding that Macedonia's MPB has excellent communication and co-operation with the MPBs of neighbouring countries, but at the moment has not received due confirmation from either of them regarding Grubi's stance.

He has said he would not want to speculate about the current whereabouts of the former deputy prime minister and that he would like to believe what he publicly stated would return to the country because he is as clean as tears.

I want to believe that the statement he is making is in that direction that he has really had private commitment where he has gone, that he will report to Macedonia and that he will take appropriate action within this process that is prosecuted against him. The Interior Ministry has the capacity to ensure its safety. If a person has been dealing with politics so long, the least he can do is to postpone his private obligations, if he has, return to Macedonia and prove his safeguards in legal procedure”, Toshkovski said.

Asked whether there were informants in the Ministry of Internal Affairs or in the Prosecutor's Office, that is, possible informants of Artan Grub who have informed him that he must leave the country, the minister said he has an investigation, but cannot share information with the public.

I can't reveal evidence at the moment in this investigative procedure and it's not time to go public. The approach leaves the procedure and the legal process of justice, and for this it takes time and deep investigation”, Toshkovski said.

Regarding police at the “Blace” bordering Kosovo, Toshkovski has said he made a big mistake, not announcing to the prosecutor in question that the person on the detention list has wanted to leave the country.

If he had announced at the time of the ban, because he has the right to stop someone who is on the detention list, the public prosecutor would have given instructions for further action if he could secure a court decision, would he call the person for an interview, say he is free and that he can come out, that is his competence. It was the policeman's job to keep his face. It is a formal legal procedure to apply to say that in this procedure we are acting in accordance with the law. But, unfortunately, the police official, who controls the passport of the person in question, who has been listed with video recordings after controlling the passport, returns it and addresses the Kosovo border point”, the minister added.

After a few minutes, the official has concluded that Grubi was on the detention list and at that point has taken action to report, but has not stopped him.

Former Deputy Prime Minister Artan Grubi and former US Director “State Lottery” Progress Bajrami is accused of damaging the Lottari budget by over 501 million denars.