The Judicial Council convened an emergency session behind closed doors, voting unanimously with 10 votes in favor to strip appellate judge Gjoko Ristov of his judicial immunity. The Council also approved a motion from the Basic Criminal Court in Skopje to impose house arrest against Ristov.
Members further decided that Judge Ristov be temporarily suspended from performing his judicial duties.
Ristov is under investigation for alleged criminal offenses including unlawful acquisition and concealment of property and money laundering, in accordance with the Criminal Code of North Macedonia, and related to a corruption case which previously resulted with the arrest of lawyer Fehmi Stafa.
Police discovered EUR 350,000 hidden inside a wall at his parents’ home in Negotino, raising suspicions that the funds were illegally obtained.
In addition to house arrest, prosecutors proposed precautionary measures, including the temporary confiscation of his passport or other travel documents, as well as a ban on issuing new ones, to prevent him from crossing the state border.