Skopje, 24 December 2024 (MIA) - The Prosecutor's Office for Organized Crime and Corruption has filed an opinion to the Skopje-based Criminal Court over the application of the Law on Amnesty in the case dubbed 'April 27 Organizers', saying the motion of the defense lawyers cannot be challenged.

The defendants ask that the Law on Amnesty is applied in the case, and considering their equal treatment before the law, as was the case with the other suspects and defendants who were granted amnesty based on the same law, this motion cannot be challenged, reads the opinion.

It adds that the prosecutor in the case has thoroughly elaborated the reasons for the opinion, which finds that the law provisions provide for the amnesty for three defendants, whereas the legal mechanism cannot be applied for one defendant, since the amnesty exceptions in the law apply.

Earlier today, the Criminal Court said the hearing in the "April 27 Organizers" case has been adjourned until January 23, after the prosecutor's office provided the opinion over the application of the Law on Amnesty for defendants Mile Janakieski, Spiro Ristoski and Trajko Veljanoski, whereas the same does not apply for defendant Vladimir Atanasovski. The court is set to decide on the motion and the opinion by January 23.

Last April, the Appellate Court cancelled the first-instance ruling in the "April 27 Organizers" case and ordered a retrial. According to the verdict, former parliament speaker Trajko Veljanoski, former minister of education Spiro Ristovski, former minister of transport and communications Mile Janakieski and former secret police chief Vladimir Atanasovski were sentenced to prison terms ranging from six to six-and-a-half years.

MIA file photo