TV Station Boss Arrested in Macedonia

Ramkovski, along with at least 10 other persons linked to his companies, registered at the same address as the TV station, were also arrested.

Police spokesperson Ivo Kotevski said Ramkovski was suspected of money laundering, tax evasion and other serious crimes.

The head of the Public Revenue Office, Goran Trajkovski, said these financial crimes were worth 16 million euro.

The TV station reported that Ramkovski’s house was also raided and that his oldest daughter, Emel, had also been detained.

Once seen as close ally of the VMRO DPMNE party of Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski, Ramkovski recently said the ruling party was looking for excuses to shut down A1 and put him in jail after his media outlets started criticizing the government.

Ramkovski has been at the centre of a political storm since police and financial inspectors raided the building of his TV station on November 25. Police then came in search of alleged financial misdemeanors committed by others of his companies registered at the address. But the TV station and Ramkovski himself accused them of intimidation.

Although not registered under his name, Ramkovski has said he owns three daily newspapers Spic, Vreme and Koha e Re.