Skopje, 25 November 2024 (MIA) -- Following the recent collective resignation by the Pardoning Commission appointed by President Gordana Siljanovska Davkova in late July, its new members have been selected and they will convene for the first time Tuesday. The new Pardoning Commission will be chaired by Milka Ristova. Its other members are Oliver Bachanovikj, Aleksandra Gruevska Drakulevski, Blerta Ahmedi, Dragana Batikj, Afet Mamuti, and Doan Sulejmanoski, according to the President's Office.

The commission advises the President whom to pardon following proposals from the Ministry of Justice regarding the release of inmates under a presidential pardon.

The previous members resigned in late October shortly after the President pardoned ten inmates -- including former Bitola mayor Vladimir Taleski convicted of abuse of office, former intelligence agency employee charged with running a spy ring Marjan Efremov, and criminals Shenol Maslani and Akif Ravmanovski -- which led to public outcry and media reports that some of the pardoned were connected to a drug cartel.

Ravmanoski, who is linked with the criminal gang known as "Baron" from Arachinovo, upon his release from the Idrizovo prison, was immediately arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.

Gordan Kalajdzhiev, the former chair of the Pardoning Commission, announced the collective resignation in a Facebook post also signed by commission members Metodija Kanevchev, Arlinda Kadri Shahinovikj, Zora Mitikj, Ana Gjorgjieva Ivanovska and Ajten Shaqiri.

"We made this decision in accordance with our personal and professional principles," Kalajdzhiev wrote. nn/mr/