Police charged after handcuffed detainee beaten in Struga
MIA accuses two Struga officers of using excessive force on a handcuffed detainee; internal control seeks suspension and confiscation of service weapons.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) has filed criminal charges against two police officers, T.M. and I.Š., for "maltreatment in the performance of duty" after investigators concluded that they beat a detained person at the Struga Police Station while the detainee was already handcuffed.
Excessive force used despite handcuffs
According to the MIA, the first suspect, T.M., an officer at the Struga Police Station, and the second suspect, I.Š., the lead officer for traffic accident investigations in the Police Unit for Road Traffic Safety in Struga, on 14.05.2026 used excessive physical force while escorting a person who had previously been deprived of liberty.
The ministry's statement says that although the detainee was bound with handcuffs, the officers physically attacked him and struck him with hands and feet.
The Department for Internal Control announced it will initiate disciplinary proceedings against both officers. As compulsory interim measures, the department will order the confiscation of their service weapons and ammunition and suspend them from duty until the disciplinary procedure is completed.
The criminal complaint marks the next phase of the case; both the criminal investigation and the internal disciplinary process remain open as authorities gather evidence and determine responsibility.
Photo: press material from the event
