What happened: The supporters clubs of both of the teams got in to multiple fights during the
basketball game between MZT and Lirija in Skopje.
Date, time and location of the incident: April 22nd, Sports Arena Boris Trajkovski, Skopje.
Source of information: National electronic media 24Vesti.
Victim(s) involved: Unknown number of victims on both sides.
Type of the crime(s): Bodily Harm Art. 130 CCRM, Damaging of other’s property (Art. 243), Violence
(Art. 386), Endangerment of safety (Art. 144), Assaulting public official while conducts matters related
to security (Art. 383).
Perpetrator(s): Unknown number of perpetrators on both sides.
Brief description of incident with bias indicators: The bias motive in this incident is the ethnic origin
citizenship or language, and the bias indicators in this incident are:
1. Comments – from sources in the field the Committee gained an information that both sides were
continually chanting offensive and hatred filled chants.
2. Difference between perpetrator and victim on ethnicity – these supporters clubs are comprised mostly of
members of a single ethnic community (supporters of MZT are mostly Macedonian, and supporters
of Lirija are mostly Albanian).
3. Location and timing – the incident occurred during a sports game between the clubs of both
supporters groups.
4. Nature of violence – the incident was carried out in public.
5. Lack of other motives.
Status of the case: Perpetrators located. Case under investigation.
Response of local authorities: The police stated via the media that they had detained the responsible
perpetrators and will undertake the appropriate measures. However, The Ministry of Interior stated
via Answer upon a Request for information of public character sent by the Committee that they
haven’t registered any incidents during that game.
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 country.
