The appointment of Xhezair Shaqiri Hoxha, or commander Hoxha, as advisor to Prime Minister Zoran Zaev, as an outside collaborator in the area of internal security and the fight against radicalism, remains in today’s focus. The former MP’s military background, his participation in the conflict in 2001 and the Government’s decision to activate him on the political scene have remained current news also for the social networks, the media and the wider public.In the media sphere, the Association of Journalists of Macedonia has expressed dissatisfaction with the Court of Appeal and the Civil Court, for their application of the Law on civil liability for insult and defamation. Believing there is a political background for the poor processing of the cases for insult and defamation, in which the online media are involved, AJM have stated that they expect, as soon as possible, for action to be taken regarding their request for harmonization of the court practice and for the Civil and Court of Appeal in Skopje to process the cases according to the law in the future. They also announced that they would submit a complaint to the Court Council for all the judges who have applied the Law inappropriately and selectively, so that accountability may be determined.

Today Nikola Gruevski attended the hearing in the “Tank” case, accused for the purchasing of the luxurious Mercedes of 600 thousand euros. Gruevski’s defense demanded exemption of the prosecutors from the SPO. Previously the defense demanded exemption of the judges leading these cases, as well as of judges of the Court of Appeal, who assumingly would come in contact with the cases in the future, but were rejected. The explanation for taking away the case from the SPO is the assumption that Katica Janeva, as a citizen is damaged because the SPO is a beneficiary of budget funds.

Prior to May 9, 2018, when three years will be marked since the “little war” occurred in Divo Naselje, Kumanovo, CIVIL – Center for Freedom is organizing a panel discussion tomorrow at the Committee, Kumanovo, starting at 1.00 pm. The participants at the event will try to give an answer to these and many other questions related to the events and the court processes on Divo Naselje.

Biljana Jordanovska