Bishop Vraniškovski's associates reported themselves to the court

While he was bishop of the Macedonian Orthodox Church, Bishop Vraniškovski embezzled 250.000 euros

The measure of detention imposed on them in absentia was lifted, but their travel documents were confiscated. This was confirmed by the Court today, adding that the suspects have an obligation to report to the court before the trial begins.

They are part of a group of 19 close associates of the bishop of the Ohrid Archdiocese, Jovan Vraniškovski, who are suspected of money laundering, and among them are two bishops, Marko Kimov and David Ninov.

The police accuse this group of paying a similar amount of around 5.000 euros to the account of a non-governmental organization on the same day, which, according to the police, indicates that it is a criminal act. money laundering and legalization of illegally acquired money.

Vraniškovski's followers allegedly used the money to buy lots for the construction of churches in the territory of Skopje and Štip. Before the investigating judge, they all claimed that they had done nothing illegal. The subject of the investigation will be whether this money is directly connected with 250.000 euros of money from the Macedonian Orthodox Church, which, according to the verdict, he embezzled while he was the bishop of the Macedonian Orthodox Church, for which he was sentenced to two and a half years in prison.

During the search of the houses and apartments used by the suspects, the police confiscated computers, documentation of the Ohrid Archbishopric, 19.000 euros and records from bank accounts in Greece and Belgrade in the name of followers of Vraniškovski.