Five candidates enter race to lead Public Prosecutor's Office for Organized Crime and Corruption

Five prosecutors have formally entered the contest to lead the Public Prosecutor's Office for Organized Crime and Corruption (PPO OCC). The candidates are Trajche Pelivanov, a former prosecutor at the Special Public Prosecutor’s Office who now serves at the Higher Prosecutor's Office; his colleague from the Higher Prosecutor's Office Jove Cvetanovski; Iskra Hadjivasileva; Lidija Raichevic; and Faton Azizi.

Trajche Pelivanov is presented as the newest entrant in the race. He previously worked at the Special Public Prosecutor’s Office and currently is assigned to the Higher Prosecutor's Office.

Jove Cvetanovski, also from the Higher Prosecutor's Office, is known for reviving the probe into alleged abuses in the procurement of fuel oil (mazut). He is also facing an indictment for alleged abuse of official duty.

Iskra Hadjivasileva is a prosecutor who is involved in the case concerning Judge Gjoko Ristov. Lidija Raichevic was previously a candidate for the post of State Public Prosecutor. Faton Azizi has also submitted his candidacy for the leadership of the PPO OCC.

Schedule and next steps

The competition closes this weekend, and postal applications will be checked tomorrow. After the closing date and the formation of the evaluation commissions, each candidate will present their programme to the Council of Public Prosecutors. The final election for the new head is scheduled for 28 October, when prosecutors will cast direct votes to choose the office's leader.

The field brings together figures with different case portfolios and public profiles, setting up a contest that will decide who leads prosecutions of organized crime and corruption at a pivotal time for the institution.

Photo: press material from the event