Iskra Hadzhi-Vasileva elected head of Prosecutor's Office for Organized Crime and Corruption
She won a secret ballot among the country's prosecutors; the selection follows the expiry of Islam Abazi's mandate on 15 November.
Iskra Hadzhi-Vasileva has been elected the new head of the Public Prosecutor's Office for Prosecution of Organized Crime and Corruption. She secured the post in a secret ballot held among the country's prosecutors, prevailing over fellow candidates Faton Azizi, Trajche Pelivanov, Lidija Raichevic and Jovan Cvetanovski.
Context and mandate
The vote was organised because the mandate of the current head, Islam Abazi, expires on 15 November; Abazi has held the position since 2022 and did not apply for a new term. Hadzhi-Vasileva will succeed him once the transition is formalised.
Hadzhi-Vasileva has worked as a public prosecutor for 11 years. Until recently she was part of the Skopje prosecutor's office, and in 2024 she moved to the Office for Prosecution of Organized Crime and Corruption. The office said she has been involved in a number of significant cases.
Her name became widely known in connection with the case involving €350,000 found hidden in relation to judge Gjoko Ristov. That probe was among the items that raised her public profile.
The internal selection among prosecutors was conducted by secret ballot and decided by a majority. Hadzhi-Vasileva beat four other candidates to win the post.
Photo: press material from the event
