Ramis Merko fined 5,000 euros for illegal memorial plaque

The Struga Basic Court has imposed a 5,000 euro fine on Ramis Merko, the former mayor of the Municipality of Struga, for the illegal installation of a memorial plaque at the entrance of the municipal building.

According to the prosecution, the installation of the plaque incited ethnic hatred and discord among the residents of Struga, violating Article 27 of the Law on Memorial Monuments and Memorial Plaques. Judge Jordan Jovanov stated that the defendant bears responsibility for the crime, noting that documentation confirmed the plaque was placed on the municipal building during Merko's tenure as mayor.

The court's decision was supported by the opinion of the Commission for Prevention and Protection against Discrimination, which found that the defendant's actions as mayor constituted ongoing harassment. While a separate misdemeanor proceeding had already addressed the failure to follow proper installation procedures, this criminal case specifically addressed the incitement of ethnic and religious tension.