Skopje, 14 December 2023 (MIA) - The trial for the 'April 27 Organizers' case has been postponed to January 30 next year.

Until then, as reported by the Basic Criminal Court Skopje, the Supreme Court is expected to provide an opinion regarding the defense's initiative to seek a preliminary legal interpretation of the law on amnesty related to the 27 April 2017 events in the Parliament.

At today's hearing, the first-instance court had to reconsider the amnesty request, previously denied but overturned by the Skopje-based Appellate Court.

As reported by the Criminal Court, a notice has been received stating that the defence for the accused in the 'April 27 Organizers' case is urging the Supreme Court to deliver a preliminary legal opinion on the authentic interpretation of the Amnesty Law related to the 27 April events.

The Criminal Court also notes that this court must consider the duration of the proceedings and the principle of a trial within a reasonable time. Consequently, the trial is postponed until 30 January 2024, with the expectation that the Supreme Court will issue an opinion on the defense's initiative.

The defendants in this case include the former Parliament Speaker Trajko Veljanoski, former Minister of Transport and Communications Mile Janakievski, former Minister of Education, Spiro Ristovski, as well as the former director of the Security and Counterintelligence Service (UBK), Vladimir Atanasovski.

They are accused of committing the criminal offense of 'terrorist threat to the constitutional order and security.'

In April 2023, the Skopje-based Appellate Court has cancelled the first-instance ruling in the 'April 27 Organizers' case, which will be retried before the Criminal Court.

The case is led by Judge Ilija Trpkov, with Prosecutor Trajche Pelivanov representing the Prosecution.

Photo: MIA archive