Magyar Telekom to Probe Macedonia Wire-Tap Claims

Deutsche Telekom's spokesperson, Elpida Trizi, has told Deutsche Welle that the company's subsidiary, the majority owner of Makedonski Telekom AD, is planning to investigate Macedonian opposition claims of mass surveillance in which mobile operators were presumably involved.

The news comes on the back of claims by the Macedonian opposition Social Democratic Party, SDSM, that the Prime Minister, Nikola Gruevski, ordered the illegal surveillance of some 20,000 people.

The SDSM head, Zoran Zaev, in February said such a large operation could not have been possible without the involvement of mobile operators.

"This issue is known to us," Trizi told Deutsche Welle, recalling that Deutsche Telekom was not directly involved in Macedonia, but was involved only via its Hungarian subsidiary, Magyar Telekom, "which is the direct shareholder in this case".

Makedonski Telekom AD operates T-Home and T-Mobile brands in Macedonia. The majority owner in Makedonski Telekom AD, with 51 per cent of the shares, is Stone Bridge Communications, Skopje, which Magyar Telekom owns.

The Macedonian government holds another 34.8 per cent of the shares in Makedonski Telekom AD.

"We are in close contact with the respective functions in the parent company, Magyar Telekom. Magyar Telekom is currently planning an investigation with the appointment of external consultants," Trizi told Deutsche Welle.

On Tuesday, Magyar Telekom confirmed that, as the majority shareholder, it was "in close contact with Makedonski Telekom concerning the issue. Magyar Telekom is currently planning an investigation with the appointment of external consultants".

Since February, the SDSM has published batches of wiretapped conversations between Macedonian...