Tu aferu, koju je lokalna štampa nazvala skandal "Veliko uho", prvobitno je u januaru 2001. otkrio aktuelni predsjednik Branko Crvenkovski, koji je u to vrijeme bio lider opozicije.
The affair, dubbed "The Big Ear" scandal by the local press, was originally disclosed in January 2001 by current President Branko Crvenkovski, who was the opposition leader at the time.