The candidate for mayor of Skopje, Zoran Jovanovski, in these local elections will run as an independent candidate, that is, as a member of VMRO-DPMNE, which is just formally legally supported by the United Macedonia political party.

He is known for his advocacy for closer relations with Russia and China. His vision anticipates twinning of Skopje with Moscow, bringing at least 15 investors from Russia and three from Belarus, as well as an initiative for economic cooperation with these countries.

The leader of United Macedonia, Janko Bachev, started the campaign on Facebook with a sponsored video on Facebook of the meeting in January 2025 at the Russian Embassy in Skopje, between Jovanovski and Russian Ambassador Sergei Aleksandrovich Bazdnikin.

“The candidate for mayor of Skopje Zoran Jovanovski emphasizes that contacts will help him to realize the general program objectives: Skopje and Moscow twin cities; at least 1 businessman from Russia, and at least 3 from Belarus who will invest in the city; development of Macedonian-East Slavic friendship, Skopje a city full with tourists also from Russia, Belarus, Ukraine. Also, specific measures for a beautiful, dignified and quality life in Skopje that will soon be presented in detail. Local elections 2025. All of Macedonia United Macedonia!”, Bachev posted.

Candidate for mayor of Skopje Jovanovski in the promotional video sponsored by Bachev, ends with the words: “Happy New Year and Christmas holidays”.

Jovanovski, “in the program”, promises ”closer ties with brotherly Russia” if he becomes mayor of Skopje.

 “If I become the new mayor of Skopje, getting closer with brotherly Russia will go easily, as well as the realization of the program, and especially the part of the program that concerns friendship with Russia.

But even if I don’t become the new mayor of Skopje, yet achieve a good result, we will also achieve a great success. But why? Well, because the more votes I get, I get one step up the social ladder (from the previous one), and that will mean a much greater further political power for me to break through to the top leadership of VMRO-DPMNE, and that will be a much stronger tool in my hands, so that in the future I can influence the party’s foreign political course from within, with the entry of my cadre as well into the party’s top leadership, and these are members of VMRO-DPMNE who want friendship and development of relations and strategic partnership also with brotherly Russia, but also with the other great powers of the East!”, says Jovanovski.

The “independent” candidate in fact doesn’t hide that his goal isn’t to win the local elections in order to improve the lives of the people in Skopje, that is, to have better infrastructure in the city, more parks and greenery, regular and new public transportation, clean environment and unpolluted air…, but rather to be able to position himself highly within VMRO-DPMNE so that he can influence the country to become closer, according to him, with “brotherly Russia”.

Dehran Muratov in cooperation with CIVIL HYBRID THREATS MONITORING TEAM (CHTM)

Translated by: N. Cvetkovska