Skopje, 3 January 2024 (MIA) — At its emergency session on Wednesday the Judicial Council accepted its current president Sashko Georgiev's resignation from the post and reinstated as president Vesna Dameva, in line with the Administrative Court's ruling that her dismissal in May 2023 had been unfounded.

In his remarks at the session, Georgiev noted that his appointment as president had not been in any way connected to the Administrative Court's ruling.

He said he had never been pressured or influenced during his term. "I worked and represented the council extremely conscientiously, professionally and responsibly," he said.

Following Georgiev's remarks, the Judicial Council's vice president Hanif Zendeli said no discussion was necessary regarding the matter and accepted Georgiev's resignation.

"He remains [in the Judicial Council] to fulfill his duty during his term in office as a member," Zendeli said.

Regarding the Administrative Court ruling which annuled the decision of the Judicial Council to dismiss its former president Dameva, Zendeli said Dameva would be reinstated as president.

"Taking into account the ruling of the Administrative Court, we state that the Judicial Council's Dec. 5, 2022 decision to elect Vesna Dameva president remains in force. As of now, the Judicial Council president is Vesna Dameva," Zendeli said.

The emergency session followed the working meeting held earlier in the day during which Judicial Council members reviewed the Administrative Court's ruling that annulled the Judicial Council's decision to dismiss Dameva.

Earlier on Wednesday, the Administrative Court published its ruling saying the Judicial Council had failed to provide evidence or elaborate on any reasons underpinning the decision to dismiss Dameva.

Dameva was dismissed last spring upon a proposal of vice president Selim Ademi. After the dismissal, she filed a lawsuit to the Administrative Court.

Dameva’s dismissal caused a slew of reactions in the public and among experts from the judiciary, who said that the rules of procedure were not respected during her dismissal.

In addition, the EU deployed a peer review mission that came out with 40 recommendations on the functioning of the Judicial Council. nn/mr