Faster criminal proceedings for a more effective fight against crime in North Macedonia

SKOPJE, 30 March 2023 — The OSCE Mission to Skopje facilitated the signing of a Protocol between the Public Prosecutors Office and the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The Protocol on co-operation was prepared with the support of the OSCE Mission to Skopje and will help enhance co-operation between the police and prosecution toward a more effective and efficient criminal justice system.

“The importance of the Protocol cannot be understated,” said Kilian Wahl, Head of the OSCE Mission to Skopje. “It helps police and prosecutors better identify and investigate crimes and successfully prosecute offenders in line with national laws and international agreements. Moreover, it will speed up investigations, which will increase the effectiveness of the fight against crime in this country.”

The Minister of Internal Affairs, Oliver Spasovski, explained how effectively fighting crime requires laws that do not disrupt investigations.

“Our common goal is to successfully detect, prove and prevent crimes and to stop perpetrators,” Spasovski said. “The purpose of the Protocol we signed today is to help us more effectively carry out criminal proceedings, while taking into account the protection of the rights of victims, suspects and perpetrators, in accordance with national legislation and signed international agreements.”

Ljubomir Joveski, Chief Public Prosecutor, said that “citizens expect us to co-operate and deliver effective justice. Only with a united front against perpetrators can we achieve results that restore the public’s trust in the system’s institutions. For these reasons, I would like to sincerely thank the OSCE Mission to Skopje, which, as it has many times before, recognized the needs and supported this process of mutual co-ordination with the Ministry of Internal Affairs.”