What happened: SDSM (the largest opposition party) stated that during a meeting with local
community in Lisiche, Skopje, their Presidential candidate Stevo Pendarovski was verbally assaulted
and that there was an attempt for physical attack against him. The police stated that the incident
was a fight between four members of SDSM and two members of VMRO-DPMNE. VMRO-DPMNE
condemned the violence.
Date, time and location of the incident: April 15th, Lisiche, Skopje.
Source of information: The local media 24Vesti.
Victim(s) involved: Four members of the opposition party (physically assaulted); Presidential candidate
of opposition party (verbally assaulted).
Type of the crime(s): Endangerment of safety Art.144, Bodily harm Art.130 CCRM.
Perpetrator(s): Two members of the ruling party. The political party condemned the violence.
Brief description of incident with bias indicators: The bias motive in this incident is political affiliation
and political persuasion, and the bias indicators in this incident are:
1. Victim perception – From the statements made for the media, it can easily be derived that the victims
– the representatives from SDSM, perceive the incident as bias motivated.
2. Location and timing– the incident occurred during a political rally of the targeted group.
3. Nature of violence – The incident was carried out in public.
4. Lack of other motives.
Status of the case: Misdemeanour charges pressed.
Response of local authorities: The Ministry of Interior stated via Answer upon a Request for
information of public character sent by the Committee that the people involved are brought up
against misdemeanour charges, in accordance with the Law on misdemeanours against the public
peace and order. However, there has been no answer as to the fact that indicates to the possible
motive of the crime.
Impact on the victim(s) and the community: These type of incidents brings into question the general
political situation in the country and the cohabitation between the different groups in the society.
