Skopje, 28 April 2023 (MIA) – In response to the latest events in the Judicial Council, the United States Embassy to North Macedonia voiced hope for an independent and responsible judiciary regardless of who is in charge.

“The U.S. Embassy hopes that there will be an independent and responsible judiciary in the country, regardless of who is in charge. This is essential to building public trust in the institutions in North Macedonia,” the U.S. Embassy told TV Alsat in response to the dismissal of Judicial Council President Vesna Dameva.

The Judicial Council unexpectedly dismissed President Vesna Dameva at a public session on Wednesday. The reason given for her dismissal was Dameva’s refusal to place a new item on the agenda and the alleged hiding of Ambassador Aggeler’s letter. Her dismissal was initiated by her deputy, Selim Ademi, who after several hours of tensions and arguments, received the support of 7 out of 13 members of the Council to dismiss Dameva from her post.

Dameva’s successor was supposed to be elected on Thursday, but the session was postponed to May 2. The Council’s Vice-President, Selim Ademi, requested the postponement due to, he said, the importance of the affair of electing a new President which warrants the presence of all 13 members.

After her dismissal, Dameva accused of anarchy in the Council, and labeled the decision as illegal, claiming that it has been adopted in order “to satisfy certain individuals from politics”. After the postponement of the session on Thursday, she said she hopes that in the coming days there will be enough time to see if the necessary majority has been secured in order to legalize her “illegal dismissal”.

Reactions to Dameva’s dismissal and the overall situation in the judiciary came from the President of the country, the Ministry of Justice, as well as from legal experts.

On Friday, the President of the Supreme Court, Besa Ademi, also called for a resolution of the situation in the Judicial Council in the interest of the citizens and the state.           

Photo: MIA Archive