What happened: As a response to the demonstrations in Skopje caused by the verdict of the court
case “Monstrum”, a group of young people from Bitola took a photo with a sign that say “Death for
Shiptari” (Shiptari – derogatory term for Albanians). On the photo, the young people can be seen
making a Nazi salut.
Date, time and location of the incident: July 9th, Bitola.
Source of information: National electronic media tetova1.com (alb).
Victim(s) involved: There are no direct victims of this incident – it is directed toward the entire
Albanian community.
Type of the crime(s): Incitement of hate, discord and intolerance on national, racial religious or other
discriminatory ground (Art. 319).
Perpetrator(s): A group of more than 20 young Macedonian males.
Brief description of incident with bias indicators: The bias motive in this incident is ethnic origin,
citizenship or language, and the bias indicators in this incident are:
1. Comments – on the photo, the perpetrators are holding a sign that say “Death for Shiptari”, and are
making a Nazi salut.
2. Difference between victim and perpetrator on ethnic grounds.
Status of the case: Unknown.
Response of local authorities: The Ministry of Interior stated via Answer upon a Request for
information of public character sent by the Committee that they have no information related to the
incident.
Impact on the victim(s) and the community: This type of incidents brings into question the general
security situation in the country and the cohabitation between the different ethnic communities in
the society.
