# Presidential pardons in North Macedonia

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/presidential-pardons-in-north-macedonia
> Updated: 2026-08-12T19:50:02.000Z. Sources: 7. Developments: 2.

In observance of the Ilinden national holiday, North Macedonian President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova issued pardons to 25 convicted individuals. Under the decision, six prisoners received full releases, while 19 others received partial sentence reductions. The process utilized legal provisions from 1993, as proposed legislative reforms intended to modernize the pardon process and increase transparency remain pending within the Ministry of Justice.

One notable recipient of the pardon was 71-year-old Shefije Jakupi, whose sentence was reduced by one year and six months. Jakupi had been convicted of killing her husband in Germany following decades of severe domestic abuse. The President justified the decision by citing recommendations from GRECO and the Council of Europe regarding the treatment of elderly prisoners, noting that Jakupi had been a victim of “continuous femicide for over 35 years” and deserved compassion.

## Timeline

### 2026-08-12: President Siljanovska-Davkova pardons Shefije Jakupi

President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova has pardoned Shefije Jakupi, reducing her sentence after 17 years in prison for killing her abusive husband.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/president-siljanovska-davkova-pardons-shefije-jakupi

### 2026-08-11: President Siljanovska-Davkova pardons 25 prisoners for Ilinden

President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova pardoned 25 prisoners for the Ilinden holiday, though new legal reforms to the pardon process remain stalled in the Ministry of Justice.

6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/president-siljanovska-davkova-pardons-25-convicts-in-north-macedonia

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Cite as: Presidential pardons in North Macedonia. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/presidential-pardons-in-north-macedonia