Artan Grubi’s defense distances itself from gathering near his home: “It was not a political initiative

Artan Grubi’s defense has responded after a gathering was held near his home last night, apologizing to citizens who may have been disturbed by the assembly.

The lawyers explained that the gathering formed spontaneously after the decision to lift the house arrest imposed on the former deputy prime minister became public. According to them, citizens, neighbors and friends took part, while Grubi had no involvement whatsoever in its organization.

“The gathering took place spontaneously in front of Artan Grubi’s home, without speeches, messages or political symbols,” the defense said in its response.

The defense stressed that the assembly lasted only a few minutes and had no political character. For this reason, it said, the support expressed by those present should not be viewed as a political message or initiative by Grubi.

“On behalf of our client, we apologize to all citizens who may have been disturbed last night by the spontaneous gathering, which lasted a few minutes and may have created a false perception among the public,” the statement said.

The lawyers also emphasized that the decision to lift the house arrest was made by the competent authorities through a legal procedure and should not be used for political interpretations.

The defense’s response follows an announcement by the Basic Criminal Court in Skopje, which said that the house arrest imposed on Grubi, the second defendant in the “Macedonia Lottery” case, had been revoked in accordance with the law. The decision was made because the maximum period of 60 days from the filing of the indictment had expired.

Despite the lifting of the house arrest, the court has imposed precautionary measures on him. These include a ban on leaving his place of residence, regular reporting to the court and a ban on communicating with certain individuals.

Meanwhile, his travel document remains confiscated, as the court rejected the defense’s request for its return in exchange for a guarantee.

The defense said it would focus on the legal aspects of the case, protecting Artan Grubi’s rights and ensuring the proceedings are lawful and fair.