Skopje, 31 July 2024 (MIA) - Interior Minister Panche Toshkovski said the Ministry of Interior (MoI) will take severe measures against anyone who deliberately sets fires and threatens the safety and the lives of the citizens.

"In these difficult times when we are faced with disastrous fires, I once again urge all citizens to act conscientiously and responsibly, to avoid activities that can cause fires and to report suspicious activities. In addition, I want to stress that the Ministry of Interior will take severe measures against anyone who deliberately sets fires and threatens the safety and the lives of our citizens," Toshkovski posted on Facebook. 

He also shared a post from the Ministry of Interior about the arrest of a man from Radovish on suspicion of starting wildfires.

Minister Toshkovski's post comes after accusations from SDSM that the situation with the wildfires across the country is alarming and concerning, and that Mickoski's Government and the institutions under its jurisdiction are failing in dealing with the blazes.

"There are indications that some of the fires may have been arson. But so far there is no information from the Ministry of Interior. Why has no one been arrested? Why is there not a single case resolved? Toshkovski showed an inability to coordinate the activity of the Steering Committee for the Crisis Management System. We demand that Mickoski urgently replaces Toshkovski and appoints a new person in charge of coordinating the Crisis Management System," SDSM spokesperson Bogdanka Kuzeska told a press conference on Wednesday. 

Photo: print screen