The mayor of Skopje, Danela Arsovska, was physically and verbally assaulted during a municipal inspection of an illegal construction site in the city’s predominantly Albanian-populated district of Čair, prompting widespread condemnation and demands for an independent investigation into the police’s handling of the incident.
The attack occurred on Thursday at approximately 12:15 p.m. local time, during an official inspection on Kumbara Street, near Bit Pazar and directly opposite a local police station, according to the Ministry of Interior (MoI). Arsovska was reportedly punched and kicked by an individual linked to the disputed construction, while several others hurled threats and insults at her.
“Right in front of police officers, I was physically assaulted — kicked, insulted, and threatened with rape. I was told my whole family would be killed,” Arsovska told reporters outside Skopje’s City General Hospital “8th September,” where she sought medical treatment for visible bruises and signs of trauma.
The mayor accused police officers present at the scene of failing to intervene. “Instead of arresting the attacker, they allowed him to insult and threaten us for over 30 minutes while a crowd gathered, shouting and spitting at my team,” she said.
The Ministry of Interior later confirmed that two suspects had been detained and were being questioned in connection with the incident. However, no disciplinary measures were announced against the officers allegedly present during the assault.
The Helsinki Committee for Human Rights issued a sharp condemnation, calling the attack “an alarming reminder of the risks women in public life face, including violence, verbal abuse, threats, slander, and institutional apathy.” The committee demanded an urgent, independent investigation into the police response, criminal charges against the perpetrators, and enhanced protection for Arsovska and her staff.
“The most disturbing element is that this violence unfolded in full view of police officers, who according to Mayor Arsovska, failed to act to prevent it,” the committee said in a statement. It called on all political and civil society actors to denounce the attack and urged state institutions to ensure the rule of law is upheld.
The attack came days after Arsovska publicly accused a police officer of illegally connecting to the municipal water supply system — another incident she claims was ignored by law enforcement.
In recent months, Arsovska has published a series of videos on social media highlighting illegal construction activity in Čair. She has repeatedly alleged connections between the structures and the local municipal government, led by Čair Mayor Visar Ganiu. Her office says it has filed several criminal complaints in connection with the cases, which the public prosecutor’s office confirmed are under investigation.
Mayor Ganiu condemned the attack on Arsovska but denied any connection to the incident.
“The municipality of Čair strongly condemns the violence against the Mayor of Skopje. These actions are unacceptable and undermine democratic norms,” Ganiu said in a statement. “No employee or official of the Čair Municipality was involved in or present during the incident.”
Despite the condemnation, tensions between city and municipal officials have intensified in recent months over allegations of illegal construction and lax enforcement. The incident has also raised broader concerns about the culture of impunity and the role of police in safeguarding public officials, especially women.
Arsovska, an independent figure who has often clashed with political parties and local authorities, has not filed a formal police complaint but has called for accountability, citing what she called a “breakdown of institutional protection mechanisms.”