The VMRO-DPMNE party has strongly criticized the Judicial Council for its reaction to public outcry regarding the two-year prison sentence given to a driver who killed a young woman in a pedestrian zone. The party argues that the Council’s actions demonstrate a failure to uphold justice and protect citizens.

According to VMRO-DPMNE, the Judicial Council’s review and justification of the verdict confirm that the judiciary is prioritizing the protection of a judge over seeking justice for the victim. They believe the Council is shielding a judge who devalued human life by imposing what they consider a lenient two-year sentence.

The party further alleges that the members of the Judicial Council are aligned with the previous government and are contributing to the erosion of justice and the destruction of the state. VMRO-DPMNE points to a past vote of no confidence against these members, arguing that their continued presence undermines the integrity of the judicial process.

The case involves the death of 22-year-old Teodora Ristevska, who was fatally struck by a driver in Tetovo in August 2022. Initially, the driver was sentenced to three years and six months in prison after admitting guilt. However, this sentence was later reduced to two years upon appeal.

VMRO-DPMNE cites Article 428 of the Criminal Procedure Code, emphasizing that a verdict cannot be changed to the detriment of the defendant if the appeal was filed only in favor of the defendant. In this case, only the defendant appealed the initial verdict.

The public has reacted with outrage to the two-year sentence, prompting the Judicial Council to request an inspection of the verdict and subsequently justify it, further fueling the controversy.