The Helsinki Committee for Human Rights and the president of the Association EQUALIS as the injured party filed criminal charges with the Sector of Internal Affairs Skopje – Department for Economic and Computer Crime. The criminal charges were filed for the crime of Dissemination of racist and xenophobic material through a computer system, Article 394d in connection with Endangering the security motivated by sexual orientation and gender identity, from Article 144 of the Criminal Code. On 03.06.2024, the Association for Educational Development EQUALIS announced an Open Call for participants in the Summer School for LGBTI+ youth and their allies, entitled “Dialogue, Alliance, Action”, announcing that it would be held in Kratovo, between 04 and 09 July 2024. Following this announcement, the accused spread homophobic speech through a computer system and promoted an idea and theory that incites discrimination and violence against people with different sexual orientation and gender identity.
MHC accompanied the victim before the Department for Economic and Computer Crime. However, the criminal charges were rejected with a statement that the perpetrator were expressing their views in support of the Bible. MHC sent a complaint to the Higher Public Prosecutor’s Office, and the appeal was denied.
MHC and the victims lodged an application to the European Court for Human Rights
