North Macedonia judicial and prosecution challenges

State Public Prosecutor Nenad Saveski has addressed both the operational challenges and the perceived independence of the prosecution service in North Macedonia.

Initially, Saveski defended the judiciary against claims of external influence, asserting that court decisions are made based on law and evidence rather than pressure from the Public Prosecutor’s Office. He specifically addressed legal proceedings such as the ‘Laskarci’ and ‘Stevcho Jakimovski’ cases, as well as the ‘Pulse’ case, noting that detention durations are strictly regulated by law.

Subsequently, Saveski presented an annual report highlighting a significant increase in workload, with indictments rising by 334 cases compared to the previous year. He reported that the institution is facing critical human resource shortages, with approximately 35 percent of prosecutor positions remaining vacant. This shortage has resulted in individual prosecutors managing the workload of three people. The report also emphasized the need for legislative updates regarding budget allocations and the implementation of new rules to increase transparency in selecting the head of the Organized Crime and Corruption Prosecution Office.