Elena Ristić named North Macedonia’s third candidate for ECHR judgeship after Ana Dangova‑Hug fails expert filter
Bar Association vice-president Elena Ristić was unanimously selected on August 20 to replace Ana Dangova-Hug after questions about the latter’s human‑rights experience.
Ana Dangova-Hug, the daughter of Dimitar Dangov who represented former prime minister Nikola Gruevski, did not clear the Expert Panel filter of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in Strasbourg, the commission confirmed, and North Macedonia will now nominate a third candidate on its three-person list.
The commission has chosen Elena Ristić — vice-president of the Bar Association of North Macedonia — to replace Dangova-Hug on the shortlist. Darko Kostadinovski, who serves as president of the Constitutional Court and chairs the commission, confirmed the selection.
According to Kostadinovski, Dangova-Hug failed to meet the required length of professional practice in the field of human rights.
"The members of the Commission met on August 20 and unanimously selected the long-serving lawyer Elena Ristić, who also taught at the American College and who has authored several academic papers. We believe that she meets the Expert Panel's criteria, that she will pass the filter and that finally the list of three candidates from North Macedonia for a judge at the ECHR will be established, so that interviews with each of them can be conducted and the Court can choose the best," Kostadinovski said.
Ristić’s selection reflects the commission’s preference for a candidate with an established record in both practice and scholarship; the commission highlighted her teaching at the American College and multiple academic works as part of her dossier.
Next steps foresee the formal establishment of the three-candidate list and interviews with each nominee, after which the European Court in Strasbourg will carry out the final choice. This marks the third time North Macedonia must submit an amended third candidate on its list.
Photo: SDK.MK)
