Skopje, 18 February 2025 (MIA) - Chief Prosecutor Ljupcho Kocevski said Tuesday he would comment on the proposal for his dismissal once it is delivered to the Council of Public Prosecutors. Regarding Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski’s demand that he resigns, Kocevski said he will resign if it is shown that a serious disciplinary offense exists.

“I leave the decision to the politicians. I have been strict in my work and I will continue to work in line with the law. If the conditions are fulfilled for it in line with the Law on the Public Prosecutor’s Office, then they can dismiss me, however, if the conditions aren’t met, the public will judge if I am dismissed in a legitimate or illegitimate way,” Kocevski said.

Kocevski denied the existence of a conflict of interest regarding his membership in the Council, noting he doesn’t act on cases, but does managerial work.

“It should be publicly stated in which cases I have acted illegitimately so I can address it. I am not going on trials, I don’t act on the cases, I mainly do managerial work and certain things provided by the Law on Public Prosecutor’s Office,” Kocevski said.

Kocevski stressed the Public Prosecutor’s Office is currently the most transparent it has ever been in the past 30 years, “with over 360 press releases and hundreds of responses to media questions last year”, adding that briefings on cases of public interest will continue.

On February 11, the Government decided to launch a procedure for the dismissal of Kocevski. At a session Tuesday it is set to discuss the motion for the dismissal submitted by the Ministry of Justice and then forward it to the Council of Public Prosecutors.

In accordance with the conclusion of the Government’s 50th session held on February 11, the Ministry of Justice took action and prepared an opinion regarding the proposed dismissal of the Chief Public Prosecutor.

“Over the past period, we have witnessed numerous scandals, a disruption in the functionality of the Public Prosecutor’s Office deteriorated interpersonal relations, unlawful actions, corruption, inefficiency in criminal prosecution, and violations of the principles of organization within the Public Prosecutor’s Office and the independence of prosecutors in the Higher Public Prosecutor’s Office,” the Ministry said in a press release.

It added that the Chief Prosecutor of the Republic of North Macedonia acted in cases where legal provisions indicated circumstances that would raise doubts about his impartiality and conflict of interest, circumstances he should have known about and should have excluded himself from.

The Chief Prosecutor's term is six years, with Kocevski elected to the post in February 2024.  

Photo: MIA