Exactly five years ago, the biggest civil protest against Nikola Gruevski’s regime was held on May 17, 2015. According to estimations of foreign media, between 70 to 100 thousand citizens took to the streets to protest. With the slogan “#We are coming!”, the citizens announced a fierce fight for freedom and democracy, and the only way to free the state from the regime was for it to fall.

CIVIL as a human rights organization was part of the initiative “The Citizens for Macedonia”. On the stage in front of the huge number of citizens spoke human rights activists, among which also the President of CIVIL, Xhabir Deralla, long-term CIVIL member Petrit Saracini, CIVIL Media columnist Mirjana Najcevska. Many flags and banners could be seen at the protest, but not a single sign of political parties.

“Today we have come after our freedom! The path is clear: resignation, fair trial, confiscation and prison”, “, said Deralla from the platform in front of the protestors.

After the protest, several thousands of protestors remained in front of the government building and started the Camp of Freedom, which functioned for sixty days, but the fight against Gruevski’s regime continued on.

And today, five years later, CIVIL further remains at the forefront and is uncompromisingly fighting for a free and democratic society. In the meanwhile, the government has changed, but justice has still not reached those most responsible for the decades of crimes. Gruevski received asylum in Budapest, and even the right to vote, while some of the criminals are again in power using the technical government, but also postponing the decision on a date for the elections.

VMRO-DPMNE although formally has a new president, Gruevski’s influence is crucial and can be felt from a distance. We remain dedicated to our fight to the end!

CIVIL Communication team