North Macedonia proposes new ECHR judge candidate after previous nominee rejected

The process to select a North Macedonian judge for the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in Strasbourg has faced further delays. An advisory panel of experts from the Council of Europe determined that the previously proposed candidate, lawyer Ana Dangova-Hug, did not fully meet the required criteria for the position.

In response, the Macedonian Commission for the Selection of Judges held a meeting on August 20 and unanimously decided to propose lawyer Jelena Ristić as the new candidate. This marks the third time the candidate list has been adjusted during a process that has lasted approximately one and a half years.

The situation has sparked significant controversy and tension. The Commission issued a sharp response to criticisms from a candidate involved in the process, stating that the individual should “face the shame of his/her work,” referencing a State Audit Office report, rather than making “inappropriate qualifications” regarding the Commission’s performance. The Commission maintained a principle of not commenting on the specific views of candidates participating in the selection process.