Five prosecutors vie to lead the Organized Crime Prosecutor’s Office after Islam Abazi

Five public prosecutors have entered the race to lead the Basic Public Prosecutor’s Office for Prosecution of Organized Crime and Corruption, a post currently held by Islam Abazi. The vote is scheduled to take place on October 28, through a direct and secret ballot by public prosecutors.

The official list of the Council of Public Prosecutors includes the names of Faton Azizi, Trajce Pelivanov, Lidija Raiceviq, Iskra Haxhi Vasileva and Jovan Cvetanovski. The process was opened after the end of Islam Abazi’s four-year term, following his election in 2022.

Faton Azizi has been part of the Organized Crime Prosecutor’s Office since 2024 and has worked on the “Aditiv,” “Botoks” and “FFM” cases. In a statement to “Fokus,” he said his program is based on increasing investigative capacities, developing financial investigations, strengthening digital forensics and promoting cooperation between institutions.

Trajce Pelivanov currently serves at the Higher Public Prosecutor’s Office in Skopje. He previously worked at the Special Public Prosecutor’s Office and temporarily headed the Organized Crime Prosecutor’s Office in 2022, after Vilma Ruskoska was suspended. Speaking to “Fokus,” Pelivanov highlighted his professional experience, while the program for leading the institution is still being drafted.

Lidija Raiceviq has been a public prosecutor since 2003 and has extensive experience in the justice system. She was part of the Organized Crime Prosecutor’s Office from 2014 to 2018, while today she works at the Basic Public Prosecutor’s Office in Skopje.

Iskra Haxhi Vasileva currently serves as a prosecutor at the institution for which she has submitted her candidacy. Among the cases she is handling is the case against Gjoko Ristov, a judge at the Court of Appeals.

Jovan Cvetanovski is a prosecutor at the Higher Public Prosecutor’s Office in Skopje and has more than 25 years of professional experience. His name is also known for handling the case known as “Mazuti.”