# North Macedonia political unrest continues > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/north-macedonia-political-unrest > Updated: 2026-08-05T21:13:08.000Z. Sources: 15. Developments: 2. In early August 2026, North Macedonia saw a series of confrontations linked to Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski’s public appearances. On 2 August a man in Struga was arrested for shouting insults at the prime minister, and the following day SDSM activists were attacked in Novo Selo during the premier’s stop. A further assault on SDSM youth in Gostivar on 5 August, allegedly tied to the Novo Selo mayor’s driver and nationalist VMRO supporters, added to the tension. Later on 5 August, SDSM leaders accused party president Venkо Filipče of organising a group of young people to provoke the Novo Selo incident. Filipče denied the charge, describing the attackers as members of a “criminal group” linked to the premier and demanding an urgent police and prosecutor investigation. Both parties called for accountability and for the interior ministry to identify all participants. The clashes unfolded against broader disputes over unsafe drinking‑water in Gostivar. At the same time the government announced a €149 million investment to complete a railway line to Bulgaria, a move the opposition criticised as a political distraction. On 6 August, a group of about ten men attacked SDSM activists in Novo Selo while they were accompanying the prime minister. VMRO‑DPMNE again blamed Venkо Filipče, naming individuals with prior convictions as participants. Filipče condemned the assault, reiterated concerns about contaminated drinking water in Gostivar and other areas, and reiterated his call for a police and prosecutor investigation. The ruling coalition reiterated the €149 million railway investment during the same period. ## Claims - On 6 August 2026 young SDSM activists were attacked in Novo Selo. (corroborated by 5 sources) - Venkо Filipče said the attack was a response to the truth about contaminated drinking water in Gostivar. (corroborated by 4 sources) - VMRO‑DPMNE accused Venkо Filipče of organising children to create incidents. (corroborated by 3 sources) - Filipče demanded urgent police and prosecutor investigation of the Novo Selo attack. (corroborated by 3 sources) - The government allocated €149 million for a railway line to Bulgaria, a project previously blocked. (corroborated by 2 sources) - Prime Minister Christian Miccosski visited Novo Selo during the incident. (corroborated by 2 sources) - VMRO‑DPMNE named Hristijan Efthimov, Ilija Stojanov and Zoran Trifunovski as having criminal convictions. (single source) - VMRO‑DPMNE claimed SDSM failed to address water quality during its time in power, with unsafe drinking water in multiple locations. (single source) ## Timeline ### 2026-08-05: Venkо Filipče accused of inciting violence after attack on SDSM youth in Novo Selo Young SDSM activists were attacked in Novo Selo; VMRO‑DPMNE blames Venkо Filipče for inciting the violence, while he denounces the assault and calls for urgent investigations into the incident and water‑quality 13 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/prime-minister-christian-miccinskis-visit-to-novo-selo-marred-by-attack-on-sdsm-activists ### 2026-08-04: North Macedonia arrests man for verbally insulting Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski A 52‑year‑old man from Struga was arrested for verbally insulting Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski during a visit to Tashmaruni, facing charges of obstructing a public official; parties LSDM and VMRO‑DPMNE has 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/north-macedonia-arrests-man-for-verbally-insulting-prime-minister-hristijan-mickoski --- Cite as: North Macedonia political unrest continues. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/north-macedonia-political-unrest