SDSM demands Ivan Stoilkovic be held accountable over glorification of Ratko Mladic

SDSM demanded that Ivan Stoilkovic be held politically and criminally responsible after social-media posts from the Democratic Party of the Serbs in Macedonia and from an agency director appeared to glorify convicted war criminal Ratko Mladic, who "died the day before yesterday in The Hague," the party said at a press conference.

At the brief briefing, SDSM spokesperson Keti Shterjova said the posts undermined the country's democratic path and European integration, and that instead of moving toward prosperity the government now contains ministers who praise convicted war criminals.

Legal grounds and calls for action

SDSM pointed to specific provisions of the Criminal Code and the Constitution. The party cited Article 407-a, which provides liability for approving or justifying genocide, crimes against humanity or war crimes, and Article 319, which penalizes incitement of national, racial or religious hatred, discord and intolerance. It also referenced Article 20 of the Constitution, which bars political party programmes and activity aimed at calling for war aggression or encouraging national, racial or religious hatred and intolerance, and Article 4 of the Law on Political Parties.

"What is the Public Prosecutor’s Office waiting for? A call from Mickoski? Stoilkovic is a minister in Mickoski’s government and president of the Democratic Party of the Serbs. Kitanovic is the director of the Agency for Realization of the Rights of Communities. The Public Prosecutor’s Office must finish its work and they must be held criminally accountable," Shterjova said.

SDSM also warned of a broader agenda it attributes to Serbian influence and foreign actors, saying the glorification of Mladic is part of efforts that deepen social divisions and ethnic tensions. "The law exists. The criminal offence exists. The competent institution exists," Shterjova added.

Opposition reactions followed immediately: SDSM and DUI issued sharp statements after the posts circulated. The smaller LDP also demanded that the government distance itself from any glorification of convicted perpetrators. The ruling grouping Vlen published a response that addressed the agency director’s post more directly than the party text shared by Stoilkovic’s party.

Photo: SDSM