The ECHR has accepted the application of former secret police chief Vladimir Atanasovski, defendant in the April 27 Organizers case. He alleges the extension of his detention measures is in violation of his right to liberty and security (Article 5).
The ECHR asks whether the grounds to extend the detention were relevant and sufficient according to the Convention, while the state should answer. Atanasovski spent six months in detention and another 19 months under house arrest when only the fundamental danger of escape remained. His attorney, Jordan Apostolski, points out there’s already ECHR practice when it comes to the matter.
In 2021, the Criminal Court sentenced Atanasovski, former ministers Janakieski and Ristovski, and former Speaker Veljanoski each to 0.5-6.5 years in prison. However, the Appellate Court abolished the verdict as well as the decision by the Criminal Court rejecting the amnesty requests.
A year ago, the Criminal Court accepted the amnesty request. According to Apostolski, in the meantime, the Appellate Court abolished the amnesty only for Atanasovski, explaining that the amnesty law couldn’t be applied to him, while after that, there was an acquittal by the Criminal Court.