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Public Prosecutor’s Office looking into opposition allegations of election-related intimidation

Public Prosecutor’s Office looking into opposition allegations of election-related intimidation
Skopje, 25 October 2021 (MIA) – The committee tasked with monitoring election irregularities is looking into filed reports involving crimes related to the organization and administration of the local elections, says North Macedonia’s Public Prosecutor’s Office. As regards allegations revealed by the opposition VMRO-DPMNE that police officers and officials in Prilep had organized to intimidate political rivals on election day, the prosecution says allegations are being probed. “If criminal act is established, the prosecutors will act according to their legal jurisdictions,” says the main prosecution reiterating that izbori@jorm.mk is active, an e-mail address for members of the public to report possible election-related crimes. Earlier, the Interior Ministry (MoI) rejected VMRO-DPMNE’s allegations regarding “coordinated following, harassment and selective obstruction of people’s freedom,” after the opposition party presented screenshots of Viber chat groups. “The MoI is launching internal investigation to look into the facts having in mind that Viber chats or Viber screenshots can be created by anyone, anywhere. The MoI hasn’t received any report on voting irregularities on election day,” it said in a statement adding the MoI “has been guaranteeing free elections since 2017.”