Supreme Court overturns Laskarci bus accident verdicts

The Supreme Court of North Macedonia has overturned the final verdicts regarding the 2019 Laskarci bus accident, which resulted in 16 deaths and over 30 injuries. The decision, made by the Council of Criminal Matters on September 9, vacates previous rulings from both the Basic and Appellate courts in Skopje due to procedural deficiencies. As a result, the convicted individuals are to be released from prison, and the case has been returned to the Basic Criminal Court in Skopje for a new trial.

The overturned sentences included 10 years for Durmo Tours owner Dурмиш Белули and transport manager Ремзи Мифтари, 7 years for technical inspection employees Игор Ѓорѓиевски and Горан Дуковски, 5 years for Јане Боваровски, and 14 years for driver Маноил Трифуновски.

Prime Minister Христијан Мицкоски expressed deep disappointment, characterizing the ruling as an attempt by remnants of the previous SDSM and DUI administration to protect their interests and undermine justice. The political party Levica also criticized the decision, describing it as a sign of a systemic defect in the Macedonian judiciary where finality is repeatedly undermined by procedural reversals.