Skopje, 9 May 2025 (MIA) - Vasil Jovanov, suspected of "serious crimes against the safety of people and property in traffic" regarding the January traffic accident at Partizanski Odredi boulevard in downtown Skopje in which 22-year-old Frosina Kulakova was killed, pleaded guilty to the crime before the Skopje-based Criminal Court on Friday.

The defendant Vasil Jovanov, who is a full-time student and was brought to the court from prison detention, said before the court that he understands the crime he is accused of and pleaded guilty.

“First of all, I want to express my deepest condolences to the entire family and apologize for what I have done. I could never even think of doing something like this. As for the guilt, yes, judge, I am guilty,” said Jovanov.

The parents and sister of the victim Frosina Kulakova, as well as the parents of the defendant Vasil Jovanov, were present in the courtroom. 

Public Prosecutor Aleksandar Markovski said the case was not an ordinary traffic accident, not because of the media attention, but because of the fact of the manner in which it was committed, in terms of the large number of traffic violations made by the perpetrator and the tragic loss of the life of young Frosina.

“These circumstances led to the indictment being sublimated into its most severe form,” said Markovski. 

The injured parties attorney Darko Al Blana, announced property and legal damage, noting that they are joining criminal prosecution.

Frosina Kulakova’s mother, Kamelija Kulakova, said she is not just a mother who lost her child, but a person whose soul is torn. “Today I am the voice of Frosina, because she cannot speak. Tell me what word from the law can describe this and describe the pain I feel. This is not a trial for a traffic accident, this is a trial for the robbery of life and future. I am asking for the highest punishment not for revenge, but for justice,” she said.

Vasil Jovanov's defense attorney, Sashko Dukovski, asked the court to remove, as he said, ‘a big lie’ about the defendant Vasil, that he is a drug addict, noting that he is an athlete. Dukovski also noted that the defense does not dispute the presence of alcohol in the blood, but that the expert reports do not show any presence of drugs

Judge Snezhana Markovska told the beginning of Friday’s hearing that six witnesses were not present due to irregular summons. 

According to the indictment, on January 29, 2025, Vasil Jovanov was driving a vehicle, without a driver's license and under the influence of alcohol, at a speed of 91 kilometers per hour on Partizanski Odredi boulevard in downtown Skopje. At a pedestrian crossing, running a red light, he hit Frosina Kulakova, who was crossing the street at a green pedestrian light. Frosina Kulakova suffered serious injuries and was killed on the spot. The crime for which Jovanov is charged is punishable by up to 20 years in prison. 

Meanwhile, the Basic Public Prosecutor's Office in Skopje has also filed an indictment against Vasil Jovanov’s father, Zoran Jovanov, for the crime of "causing a general danger" by allowing his son Vasil Jovanov to drive a passenger motor vehicle even though he knew that his son did not have a driver's license and was a multiple perpetrator of traffic offenses. 

Photo: MIA