PRESS RELEASE | June 19, 2025

The politically motivated court case against Xhabir Deralla, president of CIVIL – Center for Freedom, journalist, and human rights defender – lasted more than two years. It was initiated by Hristijan Mickoski, then leader of the opposition party VMRO-DPMNE and now Prime Minister of the Republic of North Macedonia, and led by his close associate and current Minister of Interior, Panche Toshkovski. They filed a defamation lawsuit against our colleague over a text that had merely been reposted from other media sources. The case has now concluded after the Court of Appeals upheld the verdict of the Basic Civil Court in Skopje in favor of the plaintiff.

This lawsuit is a blatant example that the current Prime Minister and VMRO-DPMNE leader is continuing the practice of his predecessors – revealing the tight connection between political power and the judiciary. This undermines freedom of expression and media freedom, and sends a clear message to the media, editors, and journalists: the country is sliding into media darkness. Judicial persecution, political pressure, threats, and smear campaigns are “guaranteed” for anyone who refuses to play by the “rules” of those in power.

CIVIL – Center for Freedom calls for full respect of democratic values and human rights and freedoms – principles that deeply encompass freedom of expression, media independence, and the rights of media workers. We firmly stand against any form of threats and the suppression of facts and truth.

In a society where politicians attempt to silence every critical voice, our duty is to speak even louder. Silencing is a tool of fear – but truth does not recognize silence. Journalists and activists are not enemies; they are the guardians of democracy. Without freedom of speech, there can be no free society.

We firmly state that this verdict is not merely an attempt to silence Deralla, but a broader effort to silence journalists, activists, public intellectuals, opinion leaders, and every person who uses their voice to speak out against injustice.

Politicians like Mickoski and Toshkovski, who fear public criticism, do not build a state – they dismantle it. They do not seek truth, only silence. But freedom does not live in silence – it lives in voice, in the courage to say what those in power do not want to hear.

CIVIL stands fully behind Deralla in his ongoing fight for freedom of expression, because it is a fight for dignity, justice, and the future. To remain silent is to surrender our own voice. And when journalists and civic activists are silent, lies speak in their place. That is why we will not allow any ruler to take away our right to speak – because that is the first step toward taking away all other rights.

Freedom of expression is the foundation of any democratic society. It is not a luxury, nor a gift from those in power – it is the inviolable right of every human being.

CIVIL