What happened: Two sixteen y/o boys were attacked by a larger group. They were beaten and stabbed
without any reason.
Date, time and location of the incident: April 2nd, 21:50hrs, community of Zelezara in Skopje.
Source of information: The electronic media tvorbis.com.mk.
Victim(s) involved: Two sixteen y/o males with unknown ethnic origin. One of them gained a laceration
on his leg, and the other was stabbed in the stomach.
Type of the crime(s): Severe Bodily Harm Art. 131 CCRM; Violence Art.386 CCRM.
Perpetrator(s): Unknown group of people.
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. Presumed difference between perpetrator and victim on ethnicity – due to the mixed ethnic composition of
the population in Zelezara and neighboring communities, the ethnicity of the victim may differ from
the one of the perpetrator.
2. Pattern of incidents – these are only two of the four stabbings that happened in Skopje on that evening,
following a basketball game during which there was a massive fight (not related to a hate crime).
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 twelve people involved are brought up against mis-
demeanour 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: 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.
