Violence erupts in Skopje

The protest started peacefully, but provoked by the large number of police, the protesters started throwing rocks. The Albanian media in Macedonia say that the Albanians accuse the police of not doing enough to defend the Albanians.

Macedonian extremists protest against new government amends. They oppose the appointment of Talat Xhaferri as Interior Minister, saying that he has been a commander at the National Liberation Army.

A group of Macedonian men protested this Thursday in front of the Ministry and then attacked the residents of Albanian ethnicity. Small children were also hurt. Dozens of them were brutally beaten by a group of 200 Macedonian, and two of them were sent to hospital.

The situation remained tense even on Friday, when several incidents took place. As response to the violence against Albanians, organizations and Albanian leaders of the civil society in Skopje appealed for a peaceful protest this Saturday.

Hundreds of Albanians answered positively to this invitation, while social movements and all political parties condemned the violence.

The Foreign Ministry in Skopje also reacted, appealing to stop violence and bring the offenders to justice.

The former Albanian Prime Minister, Pandeli Majko, reacted by saying that violence against Albanians is an act of the Macedonian Nazi. He asked for them to be brought to justice.

The Self Determination Movement reacted for the last incidents in Skopje. This movement accused the Macedonian Prime Minister for the violence used against Albanians.

Berisha condemns primitive attacks

The Albanian Prime Minister, Sali Berisha, reacted on his Facebook account saying that a group of hooligans and extremists have undertaken repeated physical attacks against young Albanian students. The primitive acts were based this time on the appointment of the Minister of Defence, Talat Xhaferri. Berisha said that the Albanian government condemns these primitive attacks and appeals the Albanian political forces in Macedonia to avoid provocations.

The Albanian government asked the Macedonian authorities to punish the attackers who want to damage the interethnic coexistence in Macedonia.

Socialist Party reacts

The Socialist Party leader, Edi Rama, expressed the deep indignation and strongly condemned the ethnic attacks in the Macedonian capital. He appealed the authorities to find the attackers and bring them to justice.

SP reiterated the significance of Macedonia’s stability for peace in the region, and appealed Albanian and Macedonian politicians to restrain themselves and resolve issues through the European spirit.

Top Channel