Skopje, 22 December 2021 (MIA) – The Skopje Appellate Court’s decision to release Sasho Mijalkov from detention diminishes the already undermined public confidence in courts, says Justice Minister Bojan Marichikj. MIA reported earlier that the former director of the Administration for Security and Counterintelligence (UBK) will be released from detention on a EUR 11,1 million bail. Mijalkov will first provide financial guarantees, whereas detention will be replaced by precautionary measures, namely confiscation of his passport and an obligation to report to the court. Mijalkov was considered a flight risk and involved in events that were a cause of public concern, Marichikj said in a Facebook post. “The two Appellate Court judges that made the decision should explain it to the public and explain how they will take responsibility if there is flight risk. Although independent, the court should elaborate its decisions so as to allow the citizens to have confidence in the judiciary. I urge the Judicial Council to examine the judges’ decision,” he said. Mijalkov is in detention after the court sentenced him to eight years in prison for abuse of office in the “Vault” case in April. The verdict is still not final.