Skopje, 15 July 2025 (MIA) -- Imposing the country's first prison sentence for the crime of animal cruelty, the Criminal Court on Tuesday sentenced Ljube Krstevski to three months in jail for the killing of a peaceful stray dog. His accomplice, Branko Bilbilovski, was also found guilty of animal cruelty and must pay a fine of 1,000 euros.

In the Felix case trial that wrapped up Tuesday, Krstevski and Bilbilovski were accused of torturing a peaceful stray dog on Nov. 19, 2024. The dog succumbed to the inflicted injuries and died on Jan. 7.

According to the indictments, Krstevski attacked a dog named Felix and repeatedly hit him on the head with a metal rod, which resulted in severe brain injuries. Afterward, he and Bilbilovski tied up the dog with a wire, dragged him and threw him into a dumpster, thinking he was dead.

The prosecution was represented by Public Prosecutor Zoran Zdravev.

Judge Lidija Petrovska presided over the trial. In her ruling, she rejected the defense's claims that the dog had been a threat to anyone. She said the evidence showed the dog had weighed 15 kilograms and did not show any aggression toward Krstevski or Bilbilovski.

The judge said the Felix case trial had raised moral concerns in the public. She pointed out that issuing an effective prison sentence, even a short one, would prevent acts of animal cruelty as it was a message that such acts were not to be tolerated in the future.

She also said all citizens had the responsibility of treating animals with compassion.

"Only through a consistent and strict response to such cases can we protect the public interest and contribute to a society that respects ethical values and life in all its forms," Judge Petrovska said. 

"In this sense, the court believes that even a short prison sentence is important for the protection of the public interest and the prevention of similar acts. This sentence sends a clear message that cruelty to animals is not acceptable in a humane society, because the protection of animals is a reflection of the maturity of a society," she said.

Animal rights activists, who had held protests during the trial demanding justice and tougher penalties for animal cruelty, welcomed the ruling.

Earlier Tuesday, in a press release signed by 15 animal welfare organizations, including Skopje's Green Humane City and Anima Mundi, Berovo's Pro Anima, Bitola's Little Heroes and Shtip's Save a Life, they said they would keep fighting for justice and for all animals' right to live lives free from abuse by humans.

Krstevski and Bilbilovski were charged with the criminal offense of killing and torturing animals under Article 233 Paragraph 1 of the Criminal Code, which prescribes a prison sentence up to three years for the crime. mr/