North Macedonia: Former Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski Acquired Hungarian Citizenship

Nikola Gruevski, the former prime minister of North Macedonia, was granted Hungarian citizenship in 2022, according to investigative portal VSquare, citing sources within the Hungarian government. This move significantly complicates any potential extradition efforts back to his home country, where he faces multiple convictions and prison sentences totaling over ten years.

Gruevski, who led North Macedonia from 2006 to 2016, fled to Hungary in November 2018 to escape a two-year prison sentence for corruption charges related to his time in office. He received political asylum from his political ally, then-Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, based on claims of political persecution by the subsequent government. His status in Hungary has recently come under renewed scrutiny following statements by the current Hungarian Prime Minister, Péter Magyar, who declared that Hungary would not be a "refuge for criminals." This statement was made in reference to former Polish justice officials and Gruevski, all of whom had received asylum under Orbán's tenure.

Following Magyar's remarks, the two Polish former officials reportedly left Hungary. However, Gruevski remains in Budapest. VSquare assesses that Gruevski's position is now considerably more secure, as revoking citizenship is a far more complex legal process than withdrawing political asylum. The 56-year-old former leader has faced additional convictions since his initial flight, with the total prison time he is evading exceeding a decade.

North Macedonia's current Prime Minister, Hristijan Mickoski, stated that his government has no information about Gruevski receiving Hungarian citizenship. Mickoski recently expressed doubt about the former prime minister's return to the country, but added that if he did return, he would be arrested and imprisoned to serve his sentences. In 2019, North Macedonia's government requested Gruevski's extradition, but a Hungarian court rejected the appeal.