Skopje, 15 September 2025 (MIA) - Interior Minister Panche Toshkovski urged on Monday all relevant institutions in the field of environmental protection, especially the Ministry of Environment and all inspectorates and directorates, to visit all legal and illegal landfills and determine if they have a permit to operate and if they are acting in line with professional and legal standards.

In answer to a journalist’s question, Toshkovski said “we should once and for all realize that instead of running around to solve the issue after it happens, all relevant institutions should preventively do their job to avoid incidents”.

Asked how he would assess the security situation in the country and whether the fires are a “hybrid attack”, Toshkovski said there are indications, but said, in the interest of the investigation, he wouldn’t share more information at this moment.

“We are alert and present on the ground. The Interior Ministry is taking all necessary actions within its jurisdiction. Regarding the recent fire at the factory in Trubarevo, interviews were conducted with four individuals, and for some of them, proceedings are being carried out under the guidance of the Public Prosecutor, with measures being sought to ensure their presence. I believe that, by order of the Public Prosecutor, short-term detention was proposed. All actions that the Interior Ministry needs to undertake will be carried out, and I assure you that for anyone for whom there is evidence of involvement in this type of crime, linked to environmental crime, appropriate measures will certainly follow from the Interior Ministry,” stated Toshkovski.

The investigation into the Trubarevo fire will be as thorough as it can be, said Toshkovski.

“In fact, those who were detained and those placed under short-term detention are connected to the ownership or management structure within the company. So, everything necessary should be investigated and all these issues should be clarified, and I would also go a step further, not just for this company, I would urge all relevant institutions in Macedonia, especially the Ministry of Environment and all the inspectorates, directorates, and the many institutions we have that are linked to environmental protection, to fully engage in carrying out all their legal responsibility,” Toshkovski said.