Skopje, 19 October 2025 (MIA) - On the day of the first round of local elections, the Office of the Ombudsman will launch a free telephone line, 0800-54321, from 7 am to 7 pm, allowing citizens to report any violation of their voting rights.

Apart from the phone line, citizens can report violations of their voting rights in person at the Ombudsman’s offices in Skopje, Bitola, Kichevo, Kumanovo, Strumica, Tetovo, and Shtip.

Free phone lines will also be available every working day from 8 am to 4 pm in the regional offices in Strumica (034)329-996, Kichevo (045)228-586, Tetovo (044)344-082, Bitola (047)242-310, Shtip (032)389-701, and Kumanovo (031)431-488.

The Ombudsman will protect citizens’ rights by implementing immediate measures to secure effective action by the relevant authorities during the electoral process and by other institutions obligated to protect their guaranteed rights.

The Ombudsman underlines that the right to vote is constitutionally guaranteed as equal, universal and direct, to be exercised in free elections by secret ballot, and that no individual may be held accountable for exercising this right. For this reason, violations of voters’ freedom of choice, as well as other infringements of voting rights, are criminal offenses. The Ombudsman calls on all participants in the electoral process to adhere to the health protocols defined for the voting process.

Photo: MIA archive