Seven years since the conflict in the "Neighborhood of the Brave" in Northern Macedonia

Seven years since the conflict in the “Neighborhood of the Brave” in Northern Macedonia

May 9, 2022

Today marks seven years since the armed conflict in the “Neighborhood of the Brave” in northern Macedonia, where eight members of the Ministry of Internal Affairs lost their lives and about forty were injured.

In addition to eight members of the police force, 10 members of the armed group were killed in the armed conflict.

For the events in the “Neighborhood of the Brave” from February 2016 in the Criminal Court was held a court session against 29 persons who are accused of criminal offenses “Terrorist organization” and “Terrorism”. All 29 defendants in the Kumanovo case pleaded not guilty before the court.

The case was later merged with the “Lightning” case, in which a trial was conducted against eight auxiliary members of the armed group from the “Neighborhood of the Brave”, which increased the number of defendants to a total of 37.

The Republican Public Prosecutor’s Office has initiated proceedings for those arrested in the action in Kumanovo after the Ministry of Interior filed a criminal complaint with the Basic Public Prosecutor’s Office for the prosecution of organized crime and corruption against a number of persons for “terrorist endangerment of constitutional order and security.”

Of the 37 accused of “Terrorism” and “Terrorist Organization”, 33 persons were convicted of the offenses, while four persons were acquitted.

In November 2017, the Criminal Court sentenced Andi Krasniqi-Malisheva, Deme Shehu, Fadil Fejzullahu, Nasuf Bekiri, Valdet Zekaj, Beg Bajra and Fejzulla Rushitovski to life imprisonment. Commander Sokoli, Esat Kafexholli, Ardian Bujari, Shefqet Hallaçi, Betim Kabashi, Genci Sefaj, Enver Hoxha Klein, Rufki Dogani, Bajram Elshani, Nexhmedin Lika, Lirim Krasniqi, Sevdail Miftari, Fatmir Reçica were sentenced to 40 years in prison.

Kenan Isni, Fadil Elshani, Lirim Demiri, Hajrush Abdia, Landrit Rrustemaj, Mirsad Qerimi were sentenced to 20 years in prison. Musadik Pajaziti and Ebip Aliji were sentenced to 12 years in prison each. Arsim Bajrami and Elham Arifi from 13 years. Seadudin Abdullahi was sentenced to 14 years and Ragmi Latif to 18 years. Of the convicts, 19 are Kosovar citizens, while the rest are from Macedonia. Only four people accused of logistics from Macedonia have been completely acquitted.

The assessment of the indictment was made in late 2015 when for the first time, the group of 37 defendants gathered in the small courtroom of the Criminal Court. The main trial started on February 10, 2016. The first court hearings were almost silent, but in the introductory words that could be given to the arrested, the liquidation of Beg Rizaj and Mirsad Ndrecaj was denounced, as well as some members of the group, after the arrest. .

The prosecution demanded life imprisonment for all 37 accused of “Terrorism” and “Terrorist Organization”. The government in November four years ago agreed to open an international investigation into the “Neighborhood of the Brave” case.

Former Prime Minister Zoran Zaev had stated that the international community had been informed and that ways were being sought to conduct an international investigation into the unclear circumstances surrounding the events in Kumanovo.