Macedonian opposition leader found guilty of slandering PM, ordered to pay $65,700 in damages
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A Macedonian court has ruled that the country's main opposition leader is guilty of slandering the prime minister and ordered him to pay €50,000 ($65,700) in compensation.
Wednesday's decision found that Social-Democrat leader Zoran Zaev "untruly stated" that Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski allegedly took a bribe from a Serbian businessman in 2004 to facilitate the man's purchase of a Macedonian bank.
Gruevski denied that and filed a private lawsuit against Zaev.
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Zaev made the allegation in April during campaigning before the country's parliamentary election, which Gruevski's party won. Zaev's lawyer, Filip Medarski, said he would appeal the court decision.