Photo by: BIRN

Skopje police confirmed the arrest of twelve people on Wednesday, after a group of people stormed President Gjorge Ivanov’s office in central Skopje demolishing its interior.

The reporter for Plusinfo news portal Goran Naumovski was injured during the scuffles.

The protest intially started in the afternoon in front of the Special Prosecution, tasked to investigate high -level crime. Main organisers were government opponents, but the rally was also supported by the opposition parties.

Later in the evening on Wednesday protestors moved towards the presidential office which they pelted with eggs and threw flares at. They later moved towards the parliament building where the were prevented to walk further by the police.

In the same time, a counter-protest of government supporters was held at just few hundred meters distance. The two groups were separated by cordons of police.

The demolishing of the President’s office took place upon the return of the group from the parliament building. Part of the protestors entered the office, demolishing its interior while other chanted “it is over” and called “resignation” from Ivanov.

“If they [the ruling parties] annul the Special Prosecution I will call the people to take justice in their own hands” opposition Social democrats, SDSM leader Zoran Zaev told Telma TV this evening, provoking a reaction from the ruling VMRO DPMNE party.

“The wild hordes of SDSM started today with the realization of the scenario that the criminal, Zoran Zaev announced on TV” the VMRO DPMNE said in a press release, referring to the incidents.

Macedonian President Gjorge Ivanov caused outrage on Tuesday when he abruptly pardoned all politicians facing crime investigations – undermining the work of the Special Prosecution, which is tasked with investigating wire-tapping allegations and other alleged crimes.

The opposition announced more protests for tomorrow.

Photo by: BETA

Photo by: BETA

Photo by: BETA