Skopje, 31 January 2025 (MIA) - Hundreds of citizens protested in Skopje on Friday seeking justice for 22-year-old fashion designer Frosina Kulakova, who was killed in downtown Skopje by a drunk driver two days ago. The citizens gathered at the place where the accident occurred and proceeded to march towards the Parliament building and then the Criminal Court in Skopje.

The protest began with three minutes of silence for three girls who have been killed while crossing the Partizanski Odredi boulevard in Skopje. Frosina Kulakova was the latest victim, she was killed by 20-year-old Vasil Jovanov from Skopje, who drove drunk, didn’t have a license and ran a red light while Frosina was crossing the street. The other two victims honored by protesters were students Viktorija Nikolova and Frosina Cekovska who were killed crossing the same boulevard on January 20, 2022, and April 3, 2015, respectively. 

The suspect for Frosina's murder, Vasil Jovanov, has been placed in 30-day detention. He had previous records of drug trafficking and another traffic accident, but did not serve time.

At the protest, the citizens lit candles and laid flowers at the place of the accident and sought accountability from the institutions for Frosina and all other victims of traffic accidents. 

Earlier on Friday, Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski said the citizens' revolt is justified and added that a rigorous penal policy for road rampage would be implemented.

Interior Minister Panche Toshkovski said the public’s anger is understandable but urged real changes instead of “angry posts on social media and protests that last a few days”.  

The Helsinki Committee said the “phenomenon of impunity, that has been present in our society for decades” has led to the tragedy.

Peaceful protests are also being held in Frosina’s hometown of Negotino on Friday, as well as in Kavadarci on Sunday.

More photos from the protest can be accessed here.

Photo: MIA