Levica demands removal of Oliver Stankovski after his appointment as Shutka director

Levica has publicly demanded the immediate removal of Oliver Stankovski after his appointment as director of KPU Prison Skopje – Shutka, saying recent personnel choices in corrections under the current government raise serious questions about judgment and vetting.

In a written reaction the party said:

"Oliver Stankovski, the new director of KPU Prison Skopje - Shutka, was previously convicted and served a prison sentence, and in 2016 he was pardoned by then-president Gjorge Ivanov. After serving the sentence, Stankovski was employed in the Sixth Administration of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and later joined the prime minister Hristijan Mickoski's close protection team.

And Stankovski is not the only such case. The director of the Prilep prison, Emil Janeski, has a criminal complaint for negligent conduct, while Eljezi, who was proposed for a post at KPD Idrizovo, previously served a prison sentence for a drug-related offence, but the proposal for his appointment was withdrawn after public reactions. When these personnel decisions appear in a short period precisely in institutions responsible for enforcing sanctions, it is difficult to reduce the matter to a simple coincidence.

For these roles professional competence, integrity, relevant experience and especially a thorough security check are needed. Therefore the public has the right to know what criteria VMRO-DPMNE applies when choosing the people who are to manage the prisons.

Especially where Stankovski has a direct political connection to the current government. A person with a past conviction not only re-enters the state system, but reaches the prime minister's close protection and then is appointed director of Shutka. For other citizens such a biography can be a serious obstacle. For government cadres, apparently it can be something to be "overcome".

Levica demands that Oliver Stankovski be immediately dismissed from the position of director of KPU Prison Skopje - Shutka. A person with a prior conviction who, after serving the sentence, is re-employed within the security system, becomes part of the prime minister's protection and then is placed to run a prison institution, cannot be presented as evidence of professionalisation of the system. The government owes an explanation why it entrusted him with one of the most sensitive functions in the prison system and who will take responsibility for this catastrophic personnel decision," the reaction from Levica reads.

Other appointments under scrutiny

The party pointed to additional recent appointments in prison management: Emil Janeski in Prilep and the briefly proposed candidate Eljezi for Idrizovo. Levica argues that a pattern of such placements — particularly in institutions tasked with carrying out sentences — requires clear answers on selection criteria and security vetting from the government.

The government has not yet issued a public response to Levica's demands.

Photo: press material from the event