On Monday, Vesna Dameva explained that she’d made her decision to file an irrevocable resignation as Judicial Council President as a result of the attempts by several politicians from the ruling structure, including PM Hristijan Mickoski, to harm her integrity. According to her, not only is the government disinterested in improving the judiciary, but also it is obstructing it, in addition to the ruling structure’s politicians’ constant criticism of the institutions.
“What was most difficult to me and what was key for my decision was ordered texts being shared on certain portals. Here, the intention is clear. A way was being sought for me to be tarnished, portrayed as influencing court procedures in which a company run by my husband is damaged. I ignored that. I have never exerted influence in any way, nor have I brought myself to such a situation,” Dameva stressed.
As she said, from the rostrum in Parliament, Mickoski alleged that there were several clans within the Council, that there was falsification of minutes, and that some Council members didn’t hold office professionally, so they should be replaced by so-called people of “theirs”.
“I find that crushing,” Dameva underlined.
Though she believes judges are independent and professional, “there are exceptions that, for certain personal benefit, were and are put in the hands of politicians”.
“I have only one thing to say to those politicians. Don’t play with fire. For your personal and one-time benefit, you are inflicting collective and long-term damage on the whole judiciary, disparage fellow judges, and devalue the position of judge,” she also said, adding that she expected the majority, professional judges, to continue the battle for justice and dealing with “the cancer” within their ranks. Dameva will continue to serve as a member of the Council.