Skopje, 19 February 2025 (MIA) - United States Ambassador Angela Aggeler said Wednesday the US is watching developments in the judiciary closely, specifically the Government’s proposal for the dismissal of Chief Prosecutor Ljupcho Kocevski, as well as the interpellations of five members of the Judicial Council submitted by VMRO-DPMNE, VLEN and ZNAM’s MPs in Parliament, and that it is looking to see that the law is followed.

“I don’t have a comment, I have seen those, and we are following the process, my understanding is that the legal process is underway, and we are certainly following that very closely,” the Ambassador said quizzed about the Government’s intention to dismiss Chief Prosecutor Kocevski.

The Ambassador also said the US is closely watching the developments concerning the Judicial Council.

“I think that’s also something we are watching very closely, obviously, and we’ve said this about the Judicial Council and other aspects of the judiciary for years, there is a legal process, and my understanding is that that process is underway, so we follow very closely and look to see the law is followed,” Aggeler said.  

At a news conference Tuesday, government spokesperson Marija Miteva said the Government has instructed the Ministry of Justice to file a motion with the Council of Public Prosecutors for the dismissal of Chief Prosecutor Ljupcho Kocevski.

According to Miteva, the grounds for Kocevski's dismissal include the tarnished reputation of the institution he is at the helm of as well as allegations of corruption, inefficiency and unlawful interference in the exercise of prosecutors' duties.

"This is not just the Government's perception. This has been established by the expert public, in reports containing specific, measurable and objective indicators," she said.

Miteva said Kocevski, in addition to needing to bear the legal responsibility for his actions, "should be subject to broader social responsibility, especially before the body that elected him, and above all before the citizens whose interests he should be protecting."

Earlier on Tuesday, Kocevski said he would comment on the motion for his dismissal once it was delivered to the Council of Public Prosecutors.

On Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski’s demand that he resigns, Kocevski said he would resign if a serious disciplinary violation was determined.