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.
Aferu, koju su lokalni mediji nazvali skandal "Veliko uvo", prvi put je u januaru 2001. godine obelodanio sadašnji predsednik Branko Crvenkovski, koji je u to vreme bio opozicioni lider.