Skopje Awaits Bulgarian Hand Over of Rebel Priest

Authorities in Macedonia have requested the return of Jovan Vraniskovski, who was arrested in Bulgaria in mid-November, based on an international police order.

According to Skopje newspaper Vecer, Bulgarian authorities have not yet confirmed whether they intend to deliver Vraniskovski, whose 40-days detention expires on Tuesday.

He has been sentenced in Macedonia to two-and-a-half years’ jail for abusing church funds.

At the time he presented himself as the Exarch of the Serbian Orthodox Church in the country.

Macedonia’s Orthodox Church split from the Serbian entity in 1967, a move not recognised by the Serbian church, which continues to argue that the territory falls under the control of its Ohrid Archbishopric.