Skopje, 17 February 2026 (MIA) — Addressing recent scrutiny and dismissing allegations that the government-owned aircraft had been misused for non-official travel, the government issued a press release Tuesday to defend its use of the state plane, which it said followed protocol.

"Every use has been recorded, documented and subject to institutional control. No activity has been outside the established procedures nor is there any form of abuse," the release said.

Labeling opposition claims as "attempts at moralizing" and "political hypocrisy,"  the government said their predecessors were the ones who had "demolished the standards of accountability, abused official resources to the maximum and never initiated substantive reforms." 

"It was during their period of rule that the public witnessed countless abuses," the release said.

The government recalled the state plane had been used for humanitarian purposes as well.

"The public is well aware that the same aircraft was put into operation to save human lives, including during the transport and coordination of activities related to the people injured in the tragic Kochani fire," the release said.

It also welcomed full oversight of the plane and its use. "Any competent authority has the right and duty to perform an inspection and control, and we have nothing to hide. 

"Unlike their politics of sensationalism and fabricated scandals, our priority remains delivering concrete results, protecting the public interest and promoting the country's international position," the government said. mr/