Skopje, 13 December 2024 (MIA) – The Judicial Council of the Republic of North Macedonia refutes reports of its premises being searched, saying they acted in line with written requests of the Skopje Public Prosecutor’s Office. It notes that a search warrant wasn’t issued and that it will continue to cooperate with all competent bodies.

“The Judicial Council of the Republic of North Macedonia, following reports of an alleged ‘search’ of the Council premises during and after workhours, is informing the public that it acted in line with written requests sent by the Skopje Public Prosecutor’s Office. We emphasise that no search warrant was issued and the premises of the Judicial Council weren’t searched,” said the Judicial Council in a press release. 

The Council, it added, is cooperating and will continue to cooperate with all competent bodies and institutions in the country according to the principles of independent, accountable and transparent judiciary and is distancing itself from any influence and pressure internal and external in order to protect the independence and integrity of the judiciary. 

On Thursday, by order from a public prosecutor at the Basic Public Prosecutor’s Office in Skopje, police officers conducted searches at the Judicial Council.

Earlier today, the Interior Ministry told MIA that a preliminary investigation is underway into suspicions of a possible crime at the Judicial Council related to the mandate of its former president, Vesna Dameva, who resigned on December 2.

Police seized two minutes of proceedings from the Council as part of searches conducted on Thursday.

The Prosecutor’s Office said the action isn’t related to the case formed in relation to the US “blacklist”, but instead refers to a notice from the Interior Ministry in which it requested an order to secure minutes of proceedings from the Judicial Council.

On December 2, the President of the Judicial Council, Vesna Dameva, stepped down from her post as President, citing the Government’s lack of interest in ensuring swift and efficient justice, as well as efforts by top government officials to ruin her integrity as the reasons for her resignation.

MIA file photo