Skopje, 30 March 2023 (MIA) - Justice Minister Krenar Lloga has expressed regret over the fact it has been allowed that the statute of limitations in case "Titanic 2" expires, for the same defendant, while urging all institutions and organizations to undertake measures for swift reforms.

"Despite my commitment to not interfere in the judiciary's independence, I am forced to react and call on all institutions and organizations to urgently undertake measures for swift reforms. These cases do not favor the society's development but on the contrary - they contribute to increased undermining of the citizens' trust in the system as a whole," says Minister Lloga in the statement.

Earlier today, the Skopje-based Appellate Court postponed the hearing in the case "Titanic 2" for April 13, due to the absence of some defendants.

On January 23, former secret police chief Sasho Mijalkov, DPA leader Menduh Thaci and four State Election Commission members were sentenced to a total of 12 years in prison in the retrial related to the election irregularities during the 2013 local polls in Strumica municipality.

Mijalkov was sentenced for "receiving a reward for unlawful influence" to two years in prison but the statute of limitations of the crime expires at the onset of April.

Back in March 2019, the defendants were sentenced to a total of 19 years and eight months in prison but the Appellate Court cancelled the verdict in November of the same year and the case was retried.

Photo: MIA archive