Minister of Justice, Igor Filkov, in an interview for the internet portal MKD.mk, referring to the proposal to dismiss the state public prosecutor, Ljupčo Kocevski, said that his resignation would be a logical and necessary step to preserve the integrity of the judicial system if trust is violated or if there are sufficiently elaborated reasons for his responsibility.
"These cuts, reforms and transformations will not be easy and there will always be a side that will criticize. The general public, on the other hand, is impatient, everyone wants even faster and efficient solutions that will advance the system, which we all as citizens will trust. But patience will be needed, I know that there is no turning back, we are only going towards the right path, which is often, unfortunately, the most difficult and the longest one.
Regarding the State Public Prosecutor, his responsibility is crucial for the proper functioning of the justice system and the citizens' trust in the institutions. Every opinion of the Council of Public Prosecutors is important for this procedure, but it is also important to note that the Ministry of Justice and the Government will not be guided exclusively by the opinions of one body, if this means supporting individuals who do not fulfill their mandate in an appropriate and professional manner. If the Council of Public Prosecutors gives a negative opinion on the proposal for dismissal of Prosecutor Kocevski, this will not mean that the procedure is over. The Ministry of Justice and the Government have an obligation to take all legal measures and respect the process provided for in the Law on the Public Prosecutor's Office, including the possibility of initiating a procedure before the Parliament of the Republic of North Macedonia”, Minister Filkov pointed out.
The Minister claims that in the past period we have witnessed a series of scandals, impaired functionality of the Public Prosecutor's Office, impaired interpersonal relations, illegal actions and corruption, inefficiency in criminal prosecution and violation of the principles of organization of the Public Prosecutor's Office and the independence in performing of the functions of prosecutors in the High Public Prosecutor's Office.
The State Public Prosecutor of the Republic of North Macedonia acted in cases in which, according to legal provisions, there were circumstances that raise doubts about his impartiality, as well as a conflict of interest, and from which circumstances he should have known and should have exempted himself. At the same time, information and data on cases were leaked to the public, which violated the obligation of secrecy in the proceedings.
"The decision to dismiss Ljupčo Kocevski from the position of a State Public Prosecutor was not made lightly, but it was necessary. As a government, but also as a Minister of Justice, we have an obligation to ensure that all institutions, including the Prosecution Office, work in accordance with the law, professionally and with the highest moral standards. Kocevski, as a Public Prosecutor, made serious mistakes in the performance of his function, and one of the biggest mistakes was his appointing an acting Senior Prosecutor, without adhering to the established procedures. This is not only a legal oversight, but also an attack on the principles of transparency and fair distribution of duties.
The appointment of an acting Senior Prosecutor, without acting according to the legally established criteria, represents a serious violation of the integrity and functionality of the prosecution. This not only calls into question the rights of employees, but also the very efficiency and independence of the institution,” said the Minister of Justice, Igor Filkov.
In addition, Minister Filkov points out that in the case of Kocevski, there were allegations and evidence that his management of the Prosecution Office led to a deterioration of the internal atmosphere, which undermined the trust and efficiency of the work of prosecutors.
“Professional and ethical standards should come first, and when they are threatened, intervention must be made. If someone, especially high-ranking officials in the judiciary, fails to create cooperation and healthy interpersonal relations within the institution, it directly undermines its efficiency and integrity. Therefore, our decision to dismiss Kocevski is not only legal, but also moral – it is necessary to create a new atmosphere of professionalism and respect within the institution, where efficiency, independence and justice for all citizens will be ensured,” said the Minister of Justice, Igor Filkov.
You can watch the entire interview at the following link https://mkd.mk/igor-filkov-najavuvam-pochetok-na-nova-era-vo-borbata-protiv-kriminalot-i-korupcijata/
