Ramiz Merko fined 5,000 euros for memorial plaque at entrance to Struga municipality

The Basic Court of Struga has found former mayor of Struga Municipality, Ramiz Merko, liable, fining him 5,000 euros for the illegal placement of a memorial plaque at the entrance to the municipal building.

According to the indictment, the plaque’s placement incited hatred and ethnic division among Struga’s residents. For this reason, Merko was charged with a criminal offense defined in Article 27 of the Law on Memorial Monuments and Memorials.

First-instance judge Jordan Jovanov explained in today’s session that the court considers the accused responsible for the offense with which he is charged. He announced that the case was handled through two procedures, one of which was of a misdemeanor nature related to the failure to follow the procedure for erecting a memorial. For this violation, a fine payment order was issued, a measure that applies to any memorial, even when it does not incite religious or ethnic hatred.

Jovanov said that the criminal procedure in this case relies mainly on the position of the Commission for Prevention and Protection against Discrimination. The defense had contested this position through a criminal complaint to the Administrative Court, but the request was rejected by a ruling, which was subsequently confirmed by the High Administrative Court. According to him, this means the opinion remains valid and in force. It was drafted based on the assessment of experts from the Institute of National History, who were asked to determine whether the plaque’s symbolism could cause or incite religious or ethnic hatred.

In his final statement before the court, Merko denied any connection to the plaque’s placement on the Struga Municipality building. He said that the Association of Albanian Pensioners had testified on this matter and had admitted to placing the plaque on the day when, every year, it organized an academy dedicated to the Albanian alphabet.

Merko added that he learned of the plaque’s existence from state cultural inspectors. According to him, they issued a fine to the Municipality and made it known that if it was paid, the pensioners would be released from the Municipality’s responsibility and the case would be considered closed./Telegrafi/