36 arrested under suspicion of "terror" acts in Macedonia violent protests

SKOPJE, Nov. 28 (Xinhua) -- A total of 36 people in Macedonia are under investigation for organizing a "terror" threat on constitutional order and security during the violent events in the Macedonian Assembly back in April 27, the Macedonian prosecutor's office announced Tuesday.

Among the suspects are the former minister of interior and director of the bureau for public security Mitko Chavkov, opposition members of parliament, doctors, and artists.

They are investigated for organizing and coordinating the violent protests on April 27. Most of them were arrested in a police operation in the early hours of Tuesday, while others are still being traced.

"We have terminated the pre-investigative procedure. After carefully examining all the evidence and establishing the facts, we have initiated an investigation against 36 people," the prosecutor's office announced in a written statement.

The suspects are being interrogated in front of a judge. Opposition party VMRO DPMNE said the arrests were politically motivated. Party leader Nikola Gruevski called its supporters to protest in front of the court to "fight against the injustice that is being done".

According to ruling party SDSM, all responsible for the bloody events in the Macedonian Assembly will have to face justice.

"The April 27 violence was an attack on the Macedonian democracy, on its constitutional order, an attempt to jeopardize the lives of some parliamentarians, and with that jeopardize all citizens. The institutions have an obligation to solve this case," SDSM said in a written statement.

The charges leveled are among the hardest criminal offenses under the Macedonian Penal Code. A terrorist threat on the constitutional order and security carries a minimum jail sentence of 10 years.

At least five of the arrested are current MPs in the Macedonian parliament. They enjoy parliamentary immunity but it does not apply if they are caught in criminal acts for which the envisaged jail sentence is over five years.

In the violent protests on April 27, during the election of the new parliament speaker, crowds entered the building of the Macedonian Assembly injuring several MPs from the newly formed majority. Enditem