Skopje police officer to face charges after hitting handcuffed detainee at City Park Fountain
Ministry of Interior says an internal review found an officer struck a handcuffed detainee in Skopje City Park on 24 May 2026.
A police officer assigned to the Center Police Station in Skopje will face criminal charges after an internal investigation found he struck an already-detained man who was handcuffed.
Internal control findings and charges
According to the Ministry of Interior, the incident took place on 24 May 2026 at about 02:53 in Skopje City Park — at the Fountain on Ilinden Boulevard, while officers were performing official duties. The Ministry says the officer used physical force without justification and struck the detained person in the back, an action that humiliated the individual.
The officer will be charged with the criminal offence of "maltreatment while performing official duties" and the department for internal control will also submit a proposal to initiate proceedings to determine responsibility for breaching work discipline, the ministry added.
No name of the officer has been released publicly. The Ministry of Interior's internal control unit is handling the case and has proposed both criminal proceedings and internal disciplinary measures.
Authorities say the investigation is ongoing; prosecutors will decide whether to press formal charges based on the internal findings and any additional evidence collected by investigators.
The case adds to public scrutiny of police conduct and to calls for accountability in instances where force is used against persons already deprived of liberty.
Photo: илустрација / Слободен печат / Драган Митрески
