Kumanovo, 9 May 2024 (MIA) – Thursday marks the ninth anniversary of the shootouts that took place between police forces and a terrorist armed group on 9-10 May 2015 in the Kumanovo settlement of Divo Naselje. 

During the 28-hour clashes, eight members of the security forces were killed, including Ljubisha Arangjelovikj, Boban Ivanovikj, Goran Ilijevski, Zharko Kuzmanovski, Isamedin Osmani, Sasho Samojlovski, Nenad Serafimovski and Goran Stojmenovikj. They had been posthumously awarded with medals for bravery.

Also, 37 members of the security forces were injured in the shootouts. 

Last year, a memorial at the Kumanovo Interior Affairs Sector was unveiled honoring the policemen killed in the antiterrorist operation. Also, a mural reading “Heroes Live Forever” has been unveiled in Kumanovo.

Ten members of the armed group were also killed during the clashes with the Macedonian police.

In the ensuing trial, 37 persons were charged with terrorism and terrorist organization, with 33 receiving prison sentences and four acquitted.

Eight defendants received life sentences, 13 were given 40 years in prison, five were sentenced to 20 years, one got 18 years, while six other received 14, 13 and 12 years in prison.

Earlier today, the additional Deputy Interior Minister, Mitko Bojmacaliev, Public Security Bureau Director Sasho Tasevski, the Ministry’s state secretary Magdalena Nestorovska, representatives of the Special Police Operations Unit and officials of the Kumanovo police force laid wreaths at the memorial in Kumanovo to marks the anniversary of the deadly clashes.

Photo: MIA