52-year-old from Struga arrested for insulting Prime Minister Mickoski

Police have arrested S.G. (52), a resident of Struga, on suspicion that he made verbal insults during Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski’s visit to Tashmarunishtë on August 2. The Ministry of Internal Affairs announced the detention, while VMRO-DPMNE stated that the arrested man possessed Bulgarian documents.

According to the Lideri.mk portal, S.G.’s arrest was carried out following a report that he had committed the criminal offense of “obstructing an official while performing official duties.”

The Interior Ministry’s announcement explained that on August 2, 52-year-old S.G. verbally insulted public figures who were participating in an event commemorating August 2 – Republic Day. The institution said that, once the case had been fully documented, the relevant report would be filed against him.

Both SDSM and VMRO-DPMNE reacted to the incident yesterday.

SDSM raised the question of whether citizens had verbally attacked Mickoski and whether the insults against him were linked to unfulfilled promises. According to the party, citizens can no longer tolerate Mickoski because of his policy of spreading hatred, division and discord, which, it claimed, was also evident in his Ilinden speech. SDSM also stated that dissatisfaction was widespread as a result of the catastrophic economic situation, water pollution, the country’s isolation and Mickoski’s daily lies.

In its response, VMRO-DPMNE said that SDSM had recognized itself in the speech Mickoski delivered in Pelince and, according to the party, had demonstrated its full coordination with external centers.

VMRO-DPMNE stated that Mickoski, greeted by the citizens present, walked among them as befits a popular leader. The party compared this conduct with that of the SDSM leader, whom it said distances himself from the people on expensive yachts and, on a day such as Ilinden, addresses citizens through recorded messages.

According to VMRO-DPMNE’s version, while Mickoski was moving among the citizens, a person under the influence of alcohol attempted to cause an incident by shouting inappropriate remarks. The party added that those present isolated the man, while Interior Ministry officers identified him. During the identification procedure, he presented a Bulgarian identity card and passport.