Acting director of Krushevo Historical Museum resigns after Makedonium was used for music video
Acting director says resignation is a moral act despite his view that no law or internal rule was broken.
The acting director of the National Institution Historical Museum – Krushevo submitted an irrevocable resignation after parts of a music video by Kosovo rapper Don Djoni were filmed inside the Makedonium monument.
Acting director cites moral responsibility despite saying no law was broken
In a letter addressed to the museum's Supervisory Board, acting director Miha Odzhaklievski said he chose to step down as a matter of personal moral and ethical responsibility, even though "no law, rule or other act was violated" and no decision of the board was contravened in the specific case.
Odzhaklievski also acknowledged that the sequence of events—part of an established practice at the institution—created a public perception problem. He wrote: "The procedure in question was part of an already established and previously applied practice within the institution. However, I am aware that what is legally permitted is not always sufficient to preserve the highest degree of trust the public rightly expects from a public institution. In this particular case, despite there being no intention to violate any law, regulation or decision, an unintentional lapse was made in assessing how a certain procedure could be perceived by the public."
The monument is managed by the National Institution Historical Museum – Krushevo and, according to reports, the site was made available for the shoot for 500 euros.
Odzhaklievski apologized to the public for the error and said his resignation shows he is prepared to accept responsibility when public trust is at stake. He added: "My apology is not a formality, but an expression of respect for the citizens and for the institution I served. I submit my resignation with a clear conscience regarding legal responsibility, but also with full awareness of the moral responsibility that comes with the position I held."
Earlier the same day Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski said he would ask Minister of Culture and Tourism Sedat Sulejmani to dismiss the director and the members of the Supervisory Board of the National Institution Historical Museum – Krushevo, under whose remit the Makedonium falls. Mickoski apologized to citizens and said such monuments should not be rented out for purposes like filming this video.
Minister Sulejmani said the case is sensitive and that the ministry will examine the legal aspects of the filming at the monument.
Photo: MIA
