SDSM will not say whether they will use material from the illegal wiretapping, or what is widely known as “Bombs” in their election campaign, but the party has said categorically that there is no ban on their use. The dilemma, however, is, can and should they be used which is being discussed by all sides. “Meta” have spoken on the topic of whether the media and political parties should be allowed to use the “bombs” during the election campaign. Lawyers say there is nothing questionable in their re-publication or use because, as they say, “in the eyes of the law, public interest is most important”.
VMRO-DPMNE say that “SDSM / Soros media” publish the “bombs” on a daily basis and have yet to stop doing so.
“If new wiretapped conversations are published, then we should be asking whether Zoran Zaev delivered all of the material to the Special Public Prosecutor, as he claims. As to whether the old “bombs” are used in the campaign, that is up to them, let them do what they want”, said Ivo Kotevski, Director of the Centre for Communications of VMRO-DPMNE.
Lawyer Zvonko Davidovic claims that is there no ban on publishing materials from the wiretapped recordings.
“We can only discuss the moral dimension of this topic. Otherwise, there is no law prohibiting the publication of the wiretapped conversations. It is known that in the eyes of the law, public interest is above everything”, said Davidovic.
As to whether the ad hoc body will react if media outlets publish old or new “bombs”, its representatives have not yet take a position on the matter.
“So far, we have not had such a case. We file misdemeanor charges and the wiretapped conversations are covered under criminal law. We will have to agree on how we will act in such cases”, said Cvetin Chilimanov, a member of the ad hoc body for the media.
In the Przino Agreement of June 2, 2015, it states:
The publication of material from the wiretapping will stop. After SDSM return to Parliament, all material owned by SDSM or any other factor will be passed on to the public prosecutor for immediate action.
On October 7, 2015, VMRO-DPMNE and DUI submitted a draft bill for a moratorium on the “bombs”.
The law was intended so the media would remove all texts related to the material of the intercepted conversations from their websites and to stop them being allowed to publish or use them ever again. Otherwise, under the draft bill, anyone doing so would face up to a four years prison sentence.
However, following pressure from the public and the ambassadors from the US and the EU, on October 20, the bill was withdrawn. At the time, EU Ambassador Aivo Orav stated this was agreed upon between the parties.
On May 19, Parliament nevertheless approved the Law on the Protection of Privacy, better known as the Law on the “bombs”, which was delayed until July 1, 2017.
Although there is the dilemma regarding the publication of old and new wiretapped recordings, until July 1, 2017, the subject is covered by the current rules of the Criminal Code.
… Imprisonment up to one year for those who use special devices or unauthorized recordings or recorded conversations or those who use a statement not intended for the concerned party. This also applies to unauthorized people recording conversations or statements without consent, with the intent to abuse or to pass it on to third parties.
