Former Macedonian Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski has denied that Serbian authorities helped him flee to Hungary and avoid serving a prison sentence.

Gruevski told the Serbia's pro-government TV Pink that there are attempts by people in the Macedonian capital Skoplje to link Serbia to his departure from the country adding that he left Macedonia as a free man before being indicted. “I got to Hungary via Tirana and through Montenegro and Serbia in transport secured by Hungarian diplomats,” he said.  

Gruevski was sentenced to a prison term for embezzlement.  

He said he applied for political asylum at the Hungarian embassy in Tirana.

“I was received at the embassy after a time and informed that they would secure transportation to the Hungarian border where the immigration authorities would decide on asylum and I was given political asylum,” he said.  

Gruevski said that his political persecution is a huge embarrassment for Macedonia and rejected accusations that he was involved in corruption.