Several Legal Processes against Blacklisted Mayor Merko Held

The trial of US-blacklisted Struga Mayor Ramiz Merko over the controversial sign on the Struga Municipality’s building reading “Bitola Congress Primary School – September 1 1941” (which was written only in Albanian and also glorified the fascist period in which Struga was under Italian occupation) started on Friday.

According to the charge, Merko incited ethnic hatred and discord among Struga residents.

Former Struga Council member Alen Dereban, who’s now the Deputy Minister of Justice and who was among those that signed the petition submitted to the Discrimination Protection Commission, testified, describing Merko’s action as unacceptable and stressing that he expected the Mayor to be convicted. However, Merko pled not guilty.

Previously, the hearing over the procurement of the Audi vehicle had been postponed because a new judge is in charge of the case. Two separate hearings over the matter of abuse of official position and falsification of documents in relation to unlawful naming of head-teachers of several primary schools were held as well.

Ex-Education Minister Jeton Shaqiri testified, saying he hadn’t received such information. The process over that case will continue on 5 March.