Skopje, 24 August 2022 (MIA) - Council of Public Prosecutors President Antonio Jolevski said Wednesday that based on facts and the circumstances, the Council decided that the public prosecutor Vilma Ruskovska should be removed from office as long as criminal proceedings are under way regarding the actions taken for the search of the Financial Police Office and a case opened following an anonymous report in order not to affect the probe with her presence and to establish the facts surrounding the criminal case. She won't be removed for long and the procedure at the Public Prosecutor's Office will be concluded quickly, he said. "The decision was difficult. However, on one hand we have a public prosecutor in charge of prosecuting organized crime and corruption and on the other we have the Chief Public Prosecutor," Jolevski told reporters. Jolevski hinted at lack of cooperation between the two top prosecutors - Vilma Ruskovska and Ljubomir Joveski - as having led to "unpleasantness". According to what has been submitted to the Council of the Public Prosecutors, Jolevski said he wasn't provided with an information regarding the search or the evidence although under the mandatory manual, all public prosecutor's offices are tasked with informing the public prosecutor to coordinate operations. "This was not the case here," he stated. At this stage, Jolevski said, the Council is not in charge of establishing responsibility because it is not a disciplinary case, but a removal from office. Asked about the content of Ruskovska's appeal, Jolevski said it is focused more on the disciplinary procedure, which is not subject to examination, as he said. The Council, he added, discussed only whether she should be removed from office during the criminal procedure in order to be concluded successfully. "Evidence should be sent to a disciplinary commission, we here, we completely excluded the disciplinary procedure, discussing only the criminal one." Answering a reporter's question, Jolevski said that the investigation launched by Ruskovska will continue since it is "of public interest". "If Ruskovska is removed, it doesn't mean that the others will be prevented from continuing," he stated when asked if any prosecutor would be brave enough to see this investigation till the end. The Council of Public Prosecutors is here to protect the public prosecutors from influence and pressure, he stressed. North Macedonia’s Council of Public Prosecutors at Wednesday’s session unanimously decided to dismiss the prosecutor Vilma Ruskovska’s appeal against her suspension calling it groundless. By dismissing the appeal, the Council reaffirms the August 16 decision of the Chief Public Prosecutor. Ruskovska remains suspended as public prosecutor for organized crime. The Council’s session was closed for the public so as to protect the integrity of all public prosecutors and the cases. The Council of Public Prosecutors, although comprised of 11 members, functions with eight after two prosecutors retired and new ones are yet to be elected.