Skopje Appeals Court Partially Increases Compensation for Ziadin Sela, Awards 7.8 Million Denars for the April 27 Events

The Appeals Court in Skopje has issued a final ruling partially accepting politician Ziadin Sela’s appeal over compensation related to the violence carried out on April 27, 2017 in Parliament.

Under the new judgment, the Republic of North Macedonia is obliged to pay Sela a total of 7.8 million denars, or around 126,830 euros, as compensation for non-material damage, including the violation of personal rights and severe harm to his physical and psychological health.

However, this compensation has been described as scandalous, considering that in his lawsuit Ziadin Sela had sought 61 million denars, or approximately 1 million euros, for the damage suffered, INA reports.

According to reports, the Appeals Court’s reasoning remains almost the same as that of the first-instance court, but the judicial panel assessed that the amount initially set by the Civil Court was not sufficient.

The legal reasoning stresses that the first-instance court had not properly weighed the seriousness of the damage caused and had not taken into account all the relevant circumstances affecting the determination of fair and objective compensation.

Of the total amount, the Appeals Court allocated 1,500,000 denars for physical pain, 900,000 denars for the fear experienced, 3,000,000 denars for emotional pain due to the reduction of overall life capacity, 600,000 denars for emotional pain caused by disfigurement, 600,000 denars for violation of personal dignity, 600,000 denars for violation of honor, and 600,000 denars for violation of reputation.

At the same time, the Appeals Court dismissed as unfounded the appeal by the State Attorney’s Office, which had requested the annulment of the judgment and the return of the case for retrial. /INA/