Basic Court in Ohrid Acquits Angelov and Spaseski in Attack on Hristijan Pendikov

The Basic Court in Ohrid issued an acquittal on Thursday, October 22, 2026, for Borche Angelov and Ilija Spaseski, who had been charged with the January 19, 2023 assault on Hristijan Pendikov, the former secretary of a Bulgarian club in Ohrid. The ruling follows a return of the case for retrial by the Appellate Court in Bitola.

Judge says evidence did not prove the charges or an ethnic motive

The court found that it was not proven that the two accused committed the criminal offence charged against them and that an ethnic motive for the attack could not be established. In the earlier first-instance procedure, Angelov and Spaseski had been sentenced to eight months in prison for causing grievous bodily harm; that verdict was overturned when the case was sent back for another decision.

Stefan Kamishevski, the lawyer for Pendikov, voiced strong dissatisfaction with the acquittal and criticised the judge for effectively reversing his own previous decision. He said: "For us it is unquestionable that the act was committed for ethnic reasons. During the entire procedure no other facts or evidence emerged that would indicate another motive."

Pendikov reacted sharply to the verdict, calling it shameful and warning of its wider message. He said: "I am ashamed of this verdict. To have an acquittal despite all the presented video evidence is shameful. With this decision the court gives a green light for anyone who self-identifies as Bulgarian in North Macedonia to be freely beaten without anyone facing consequences." He also said that after the attack on January 19, 2023 he has endured daily harassment, insults and defamation over the past three years, including targeting his family.

At this stage the defence for Pendikov has no right to appeal, and the further course of the case depends on the Public Prosecution, which is expected to lodge an appeal with the higher court.

Photo: press material from the event