FYROM News: Nikola Mladenov, Architect of FYROM’s Critical Journalism dies in a Car Accident

The renowned journalist and fearless FYROM’s government critic, Nikola Mladenov, died in a car accident, in mysterious and unresolved circumstances at the age of 49.

Mladenov was the founder of the Weekly Magazine “Fokus” and the eponymous daily newspaper. Allegedly a passenger car which was driven by him fell astray of a bridge.

Mladenov was initial driving force behind critical and analytical journalism in FYROM, always preferring to stay in opposition to whatever establishment had power in the former Yugoslav Republic.

A number of commentators acknowledge him as a first iconoclast of taboo themes immediately before fall of Real-Socialism in 1991.

His death undoubtedly means great loss for attempts to build a centrist and inclusive journalism in FYROM. Mladenov was known for staunch criticism of “Skopje 2014″ project and “antiquisation” in general.

Vladislav Perunović, correspondent from Skopje, FYROM

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