Skopje, 24 November 2025 (MIA) — After former interior minister Gordana Jankuloska announced Monday morning that the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg had raised serious concerns about a potential breach of the right to a fair trial in the Tank case against her, Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski said similar human rights violations had been happening in the judiciary for a long time and the judges who presided over these trials were the same ones who were complaining they were not paid enough.

"Yes, I read that this morning. I noticed the announcement clearly states there were objections to the trial process," PM Mickoski said, adding that the Strasbourg Court would open a case to review it for any violations of human rights.

"Let me remind you that we have been talking about such and similar cases for a long time. Those are the judges whose salaries are so low they want to double and triple them. Obstructed by parties and captured by the previous government. They are not many. Let me reiterate, for this case in particular – see who presided over the Tank trial and see where that judge is today," Mickoski said when asked to comment on the announcement.

That judge, according to Mickoski, still behaved the same way, "attacking pensioners for their linear pension increase, wanting to take away that right from them." 

"While they demand to double, triple their salaries and you see the kind of verdicts they deliver, by political octroi," he said. 

"Unfortunately, we have to be embarrassed and blush before Strasbourg because of these few judges who, again unfortunately, contaminate our judiciary and the few prosecutors who unfortunately contaminate our Prosecutor's Office," Mickoski said.

He reiterated that judiciary reforms were absolutely necessary, adding that those reforms needed to be fundamental and not merely about giving raises to judges who "do not even deserve their current salaries, which are dramatically higher than the national average salary."

He said the Strasbourg information yet again confirmed "hostages of the previous SDSM and DUI government" remained in the judiciary.

Earlier Monday, Jankuloska announced on Facebook that after five years of filing an application with the European Court of Human Rights regarding the verdict against her in the Tank case for the procurement of an armored vehicle for the needs of the state, the Strasbourg Court raised concerns regarding the fairness of the domestic court proceedings. mr/