Skopje, 5 August 2024 (MIA) - The Department for Internal Control, Criminal Investigations and Professional Standards at the Ministry of Interior (MoI), filed criminal charges to the competent Basic Public Prosecutor's Office for the Prosecution of Organized Crime and Corruption - Specialized Department for Prosecution of Crimes Committed by Persons with Police Authorization and Members of the Prison Police, against S.S., head of the Department for personal security of the Parliament Speaker, due to the existence of grounds for suspicion that he committed the crime of "threatening security" under Article 144 of the Criminal Code and the crime of "obstructing an official in the performance of an official act" under Article 382 of the Criminal Code. 

"On 01.08.2024 around 10:30 a.m. at the Skopje International Airport, S.S. arrived at the car park in front of the airport’s VIP terminal in a vehicle with rotating lights, got out of the vehicle and removed a gun from his belt, rehearsed it and put it back in his belt again, addressing in a high tone a police officer from the security of the Skopje International Airport, who was performing work tasks in front of the door of the VIP terminal, pushed him back with both hands and threatened him, preventing the police officer as an official in the performance of his official actions," the MoI said in a press release on Monday. 

S.S. was sent to the Skopje International Airport by the Parliament Speaker in order to overcome a misunderstanding that has happened with the President of Kosovo regarding security procedures for checking baggage and electronic devices when flying with commercial flights.

According to the press release, together with two other police officers from the Department for Security of Persons, S.S. then entered the VIP terminal and moving in rooms where he did not have the authorization to move and stay, started threatening the lives of the present employees of TAV-Skopje, police officers from the border police and the Department for the Protection of Certain Persons and Objects, demanding to escort the President in a vehicle to the plane.

"The Department for Internal Control, Criminal Investigations and Professional Standards, in accordance with its competences and powers, will submit a proposal for launching a procedure over disciplinary responsibility against the police officer S.S. and will impose mandatory measures for removal from the workplace - suspension until the completion of the disciplinary procedure, whereas against the police officers S.R. and N.B. it will submit a proposal for launching a procedure over violation of work order and discipline due to the execution of an illegal order, negligent performance of work tasks and damage to the reputation of the police," said the MoI. 

Photo: MIA archive