Following a series of social-media comments and online posts alleging that the daughter of Deputy Prime Minister Ivan Stoiljkovic, Sandra, reportedly works in one of the Kremlin’s offices, CIVIL requested an official response from the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Community Relations, who is currently on an official visit to Serbia and, according to his ministry’s announcement, met with the Speaker of the Serbian National Assembly, Ana Brnabić.

As noted by CIVIL’s Hybrid Threats Monitoring Team (CHTM), in recent days a Facebook user, Doreana Hristova, has been repeatedly posting claims on her profile and across multiple Facebook pages, accusing the Deputy Prime Minister and his daughter of what she describes as anti-Macedonian and anti-European activities:

“Quo vadis, VMRO-DPMNE sect? The daughter of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Minorities, Ivan Stoiljkovic – Sandra Stoiljkovic – already works in the office of the Russian spokesperson, reportedly at the personal initiative of Putin and Peskov (with the approval of Siljanovska and Mickoski)… Where is the spy Stoiljkovic among the ministers scheduled for dismissal, whose daughter works for Putin?”

Her comments also target Prime Minister Mickoski, who appointed Stoiljkovic to his current position.

During an online search, CHTM found a media article from July 2024 claiming that Sandra Stoiljkovic — daughter of the Deputy Prime Minister known for his pro-Russian positions — allegedly works as a “program coordinator” at the Gorchakov Foundation and participates in major events and programs of the Foundation, which operates under the “blessing” of the Russian Foreign Ministry and President Putin. This is further suggested by posts from the Russian Embassy in North Macedonia.

The article also states that Sandra took part in the “Balkan Dialogue” — an annual event organized by the Foundation in various Balkan countries — which promotes ties between the region and the Russian Federation and serves as a recruitment platform for individuals expected to spread Russian influence in the Balkans.

Whether these claims are true or not was precisely the question CIVIL expected Deputy Prime Minister Stoiljkovic to confirm or deny. A formal inquiry was sent to his official email address.

However, instead of responding to CIVIL’s professional and timely journalistic inquiry, Stoiljkovic chose to reply through a dismissive Facebook post. Rather than answer directly via email, he opted for a public message, writing:

“My daughter Sandra Stoilkovic enrolled in an MBA program at one of the world’s most prestigious business academies, Skolkovo in Moscow, in November 2023. She completed the program successfully in June this year. This is her second master’s degree; the first is from MGIMO, with a ‘red diploma,’ meaning she was among the top five students. Since 2024, she has been working as an external manager for business partnerships at KOKOS GROUP – an international platform for developing global business solutions. These are publicly available facts, and I don’t understand who needs these insinuations and why. If it’s even coming from CIVIL, it’s too much.”

In this statement, Stoiljkovic himself confirms his daughter’s close ties to Russia — having completed graduate studies in a country led by Vladimir Putin, whose regime her father openly maintains friendly relations with. At the same time, he revealed the contents of the inquiry sent by CIVIL, thereby acknowledging that the editorial team acted properly and fully in line with journalistic standards when sending the question.

What Exactly Was “Too Much” from CIVIL for Deputy Prime Minister Stoiljkovic?

Apparently, simply that the editorial team wanted his side of the story — instead of relying solely on social-media speculation. The subsequent exchange speaks for itself. Given the Deputy Prime Minister’s public positions, conduct, and political affiliations, it is not surprising that he chose to respond indirectly and confrontationally on social media rather than through a direct reply.

We have strong reason to believe that Stoiljkovic’s reaction indicates that his real issue with CIVIL has little to do with the factual question about potential links between his daughter and Russian institutions.

Although CIVIL offered him space to present his position, Stoiljkovic responded with arrogance and inflammatory rhetoric — which we interpret as an attempt to exert pressure and incite hostility toward CIVIL.

It is evident that the Deputy Prime Minister is demonstrating a pattern of pressure and an attempt to silence the media — a pattern reminiscent of political practices from Serbia and Russia, the countries whose leadership he often aligns himself with.

Will the entire Government of North Macedonia, of which Stoiljkovic is a member, follow this stance toward freedom of expression?

Who Is Ivan Stoiljkovic?

Ivan Stoiljkovic, Deputy Prime Minister in the government of Hristijan Mickoski and President of the Democratic Party of Serbs in Macedonia, has participated in high-profile events alongside Serbian government officials and Russian representatives. He attended a Security Forum in Russia featuring an address by Vladimir Putin, accompanied by then-Serbian intelligence chief Aleksandar Vulin and Republika Srpska’s leader Milorad Dodik.

He frequently appears with Russia’s Ambassador to North Macedonia, Sergey Bazdnikin — including at the commemoration of the 113th anniversary of the Battle of Kumanovo in the Zebrnjak ossuary, attended by officials from Serbia. Historians regard this event as the beginning of the Serbian occupation of Macedonia.

Earlier, Stoiljkovic toured the country with senior Serbian officials and veterans’ groups — some wearing paramilitary uniforms. At Kajmakčalan, carrying Serbian, Montenegrin, and Greek flags, they proclaimed the “Serbian resurrection,” while Serbia’s then-Defense Minister, Bratislav “Bata” Gašić, claimed — in Stoiljkovic’s presence — that Kajmakčalan is Serbian territory.

Stoiljkovic also attended the commemoration of the NATO 1999 bombing victims in Batajnica, Serbia, standing in the front row with Aleksandar Vučić and Dodik. Dodik later appeared as his guest at the celebration of Saint Sava in the Macedonian National Theatre — where he used the stage to attack the United States, the EU, and NATO, while Prime Minister Mickoski listened from the front row.

A Final Note

No article on this topic had been published before the Deputy Prime Minister launched his attack.
Journalistic questions are not an attack — they are a matter of public interest.

Dragan Mishev, in cooperation with the CIVIL Hybrid Threats Monitoring Team (CHTM)