Prosecutor Lenche Ristovska has asked the Skopje-based Criminal Court to replace the house arrest of former Administration for Security and Counterintelligence (UBK) director Sasho Mijalkov, who was sentenced Friday to 12 years in prison in the “Target-Fortress” case related to the mass surveillance and destruction of the UBK equipment used for the interception of communications, with effective detention.

“Yesterday we received notifications from the Ministry of Interior and the Public Security Bureau, saying they do not have the required technical equipment for 24-hour video supervision. In addition, Europol has confirmed that Mijalkov has a residence permit in Prague and two vehicles registered in his name. Furthermore, he and members of his family own a number of companies. Therefore, he could afford a comfortable life as an escapee,” prosecutor Ristovska told the court.