Thousands of Macedonians protest alleged police brutality

Thousands of Macedonian people have taken to the streets to stage nationwide protests against alleged police brutality during the country’s post-election celebrations in 2011.

Large crowds of people held demonstrations in the small Balkan state’s capital, Skopje, and eight other cities late on Friday, while police forces blocked off streets leading to the government buildings.

The protests began on May 5 hours after Zoran Zaev, the leader of Macedonia’s opposition Social Democratic Union, accused Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski of attempting to cover up the killing of 22-year-old Martin Neskoski by police forces.

Neskoski died after he was beaten by police during the country’s post-election celebrations in 2011. A police officer was later convicted of his murder and sentenced to 14 years in prison.

The Tuesday scuffles left 38 police officers and one protester wounded, while 30 people were arrested.

Macedonia’s Interior Minister Gordana Jankulovska said six of the officers sustained serious injuries and were hospitalized.

Zaev has also charged the government of eavesdropping on more than 20,000 people, including politicians, police, judges, and journalists, a claim rejected by Gruevski.

The Macedonian interior minister has described Zaev's accusations as "absurd," saying he is creating "monstrous constructions [and] grim scenarios only to achieve his political goal."

Jankulovska further stressed that her department did everything in its power to find the person responsible for Neskoski's murder.

MSM/AS/MHB

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