Macedonian authorities denied information in the article that was published on September 1 in the largest Macedonian newspaper Dnevnik, that confidential information had been stolen from Macedonian secret services and then given to Bulgaria.

Macedonian Dnevnik reported, as quoted by Bulgarian National Radio, that data for all secret agents, contributors and data for ongoing operations of Macedonian secret services had been stolen from an officer, who afterwards escaped to Bulgaria.

According to the publication, as quoted by Macedonian media, the officer managed to copy all the information from the main computer and submit it to the Bulgarian state security service.

A Macedonian government spokesperson said at a news conference that the publication was a fabrication.

The Macedonian interior ministry released a statement that said that the information in the publication was completely false. The ministry will investigate the case and search for the people responsible for spreading false information that could seriously damage the country’s security.