Zoran Zaev, Strumica mayor and vice president of the main opposition Social Democrats, who has been accused of abuse of abuse has been taken to a detention facility.
The Skopje District Court ruled that Zaev is to remain in police custody for the next 30 days. The Court overturned an earlier decision by an investigative judge that Zaev should not be detained.
The Trial Chamber of the Court changed its decision after a second appeal from public prosecutors, who insisted that Zaev alongside five aides should be in police custody as they could influence witnesses in the case.
A large number of Strumica residents gathered late Sunday outside the City Hall to voice support for their mayor and to express outrage at court's decision to arrest him.
“Unfortunately from day to day we become a state of precedents. Macedonia is the only country in the world where despite two decisions of the investigative judge not to order detention, the trial chamber changed that decision,” said Social Democrats' leader Radmila Sekerinska.
“This kind of thing happens only to members of the opposition and those that are successful but do not think the same as the ones in power,” she added.
Zaev and his aides were arrested on 17 July and they were brought to Skopje Court . The court initially decided not to detain Zaev while the Social Democrats claimed that the whole case was a provocation by the parties in power. Zaev was mentioned as one of the possible successor's to Sekerinska after she announced she was stepping down over the party’s crushing defeat at the June 1 general elections.
The only electoral district in which the opposition did not suffer a strong defeat at the polls was the one in which Zaev led the party candidates’ list.
Zaev along with four others is accused of abuse of office over a tender for a local shopping mall in the south-eastern town of Strumica where he is mayor.
In protest over his arrest the Social Democrats launched a boycott of parliament. If they keep up their action, the parliament will practically be left without any opposition lawmakers as last week, the main ethnic Albanian opposition, the Democratic Party of Albanians also left the assembly arguing they will return when the issues concerning greater rights for their community are addressed properly.
In June the ruling centre right VMRO DPMNE-led coalition beat the Social Democrats by winning 63 deputy seats while the Social Democrats alliance secured only 27 out of the 120 parliament seats.
The new government was voted in parliament during the weekend.
Showing posts with label Strumica. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Strumica. Show all posts
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
SDSM Vice President heading to prison
Unofficially, the Prosecution Body for Fight Against Organized Crime has reached a decision to imprison Strumica's mayor for 30 days, while the case against him is being prepared.
The decision was made earlier today by Skopje Court 1, though it hasn't made it public yet. Mina believes this will be made official shortly. Several hundred Strumica residents have already started gathering around the Local Administrative Building to show their support for the mayor.
According to our source, the decision of Skopje Court 1 is final, and don't intend to review or change it. The reason for the 30 days detention, according to our source, is to stop Zaev and his associates from pressuring and bribing three Strumica famillies into agreeing the land where the "Globe" Shopping Center is built didn't belong to them.
Zaev is expected to arrive at the Suto Orizari County jail this evening. Strumica residents have vowed to gather around the prison to voice their displeasure.
The decision was made earlier today by Skopje Court 1, though it hasn't made it public yet. Mina believes this will be made official shortly. Several hundred Strumica residents have already started gathering around the Local Administrative Building to show their support for the mayor.
According to our source, the decision of Skopje Court 1 is final, and don't intend to review or change it. The reason for the 30 days detention, according to our source, is to stop Zaev and his associates from pressuring and bribing three Strumica famillies into agreeing the land where the "Globe" Shopping Center is built didn't belong to them.
Zaev is expected to arrive at the Suto Orizari County jail this evening. Strumica residents have vowed to gather around the prison to voice their displeasure.
Zaev transferred to detention facility
Strumica mayor and SDSM's deputy head Zoran Zaev, accused of misusing his post as mayor, has been transferred to detention facility late on Sunday.
The Trial Chamber of Skopje District Court 1 ruled that Zaev is to remain in police custody in the next 30 days. The Chamber upheld the second appeal from public prosecutors, who insisted that Zaev alongside five aides be kept in police custody.
Large number of Strumica residents massed late Sunday outside the City Hall to voice support for their mayor and to express outrage at court's decision to arrest him. The locals tried to stop their mayor to surrender himself.
Zaev and his aides were arrested on 17 July and they were brought to Skopje District Court 1. After 12-hour interrogation, they were released on bail and their passports were seized.
Mayor Zaev and five of his associates are accused of wrongdoing in relation to the construction of Global shopping mall in Strumica.
The Trial Chamber of Skopje District Court 1 ruled that Zaev is to remain in police custody in the next 30 days. The Chamber upheld the second appeal from public prosecutors, who insisted that Zaev alongside five aides be kept in police custody.
Large number of Strumica residents massed late Sunday outside the City Hall to voice support for their mayor and to express outrage at court's decision to arrest him. The locals tried to stop their mayor to surrender himself.
Zaev and his aides were arrested on 17 July and they were brought to Skopje District Court 1. After 12-hour interrogation, they were released on bail and their passports were seized.
Mayor Zaev and five of his associates are accused of wrongdoing in relation to the construction of Global shopping mall in Strumica.
Senior Macedonian opposition official re-arrested on corruption charges
Macedonian authorities have taken a key opposition figure back into custody on corruption charges after the prosecution appealed against his release on bail 10 days ago.
Zoran Zaev, the deputy leader of Macedonia's opposition party, and four aides were arrested July 17 on suspicion of embezzling €7.8 million (US$12.4 million) in public funds during the construction of a shopping mall in the southern town of Strumica.
Zaev was charged with abuse of authority.
The Skopje District Court canceled his release and late Sunday ordered Zaev and his aides held in custody for 30 days on the grounds they might influence witnesses if free.
No trial date has been set.
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Macedonian opposition figure charged with corruption; critics claim the charge is political
A key opposition figure in Macedonia has been released on bail a day after being arrested and charged in a corruption probe.
Deputy leader Zoran Zaev and four aides were arrested Thursday on suspicion of embezzling euro7.8 million (US$12.4 million) in public funds during the construction of a shopping mall in the southern town of Strumica. His Social Democratic party walked out of parliament in protest, calling the detention a political move by Macedonia's conservative government. Several hundred protesters also marched to the court building.
Zaev, who is also the mayor of Strumica, has been charged with abuse of authority. The Skopje District Court ordered all five to turn in their passports. No date for their trial has been set yet.
Deputy leader Zoran Zaev and four aides were arrested Thursday on suspicion of embezzling euro7.8 million (US$12.4 million) in public funds during the construction of a shopping mall in the southern town of Strumica. His Social Democratic party walked out of parliament in protest, calling the detention a political move by Macedonia's conservative government. Several hundred protesters also marched to the court building.
Zaev, who is also the mayor of Strumica, has been charged with abuse of authority. The Skopje District Court ordered all five to turn in their passports. No date for their trial has been set yet.
Saturday, October 13, 2007
Strumica observes day of mourning
The Municipality of Strumica today observes a day of mourning over the death of two minors in rehabilitation center in Bansko.
Dragan Stoilkov from Vinica and Bajram Memish from Skopje died in a blaze that broke out last weekend at the rehabilitation center.
The employees at the Center staged a ceremony in commemoration of two victims of deadly fire. They placed wreaths and lit candles at the entrance of the facility.
The investigation into the fire is ongoing and the initial results are to be released today.
Unofficial reports say the fire was probably caused by a spark of electric wiring in one of the rooms of the old facility.
Dragan Stoilkov from Vinica and Bajram Memish from Skopje died in a blaze that broke out last weekend at the rehabilitation center.
The employees at the Center staged a ceremony in commemoration of two victims of deadly fire. They placed wreaths and lit candles at the entrance of the facility.
The investigation into the fire is ongoing and the initial results are to be released today.
Unofficial reports say the fire was probably caused by a spark of electric wiring in one of the rooms of the old facility.
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