North Macedonia is shaken by allegations of sexual abuse and blackmail targeting a 16-year-old girl in the northern municipality of Lipkovo, – near city of Kumanovo located in the northern part of the country, – a case that reportedly involves at least 17 suspects, including a close relative of the victim. The case has drawn nationwide attention amid growing concerns about online exploitation of minors.
Authorities said the girl was allegedly coerced over months with threats to release intimate photos unless demands for money or favors were met. One suspect, reportedly a family member, is alleged to have demanded payment in exchange for silence.
Deputy Prime Minister Arben Fetai condemned the “serious and abhorrent act of sexual abuse and extortion of a minor,” calling on institutions to act decisively and provide legal and psychological support to the victim and her family.
“Tolerance for such crimes must not exist. Institutions must act in full accordance with the law,” Fetai said.
The Ministry of Interior said investigators are analyzing digital evidence, including mobile devices, to determine the role of each suspect. Police detained a 31-year-old man from the village of Slupčane on January 2 on suspicion of blackmail involving threats to release compromising material. Investigators continue to identify other suspects.
VLEN coalition lawmaker Imrlije Saliu described the case as “shocking” and called for urgent action by prosecutors. “Protecting children is a constitutional and legal obligation. No such crime can go unpunished,” Saliu wrote on social media.
Once the investigation concludes, police will submit the case file to the Basic Public Prosecutor’s Office in Kumanovo, which will decide whether the case should be handled by the Organized Crime Prosecutor’s Office. North Macedonia’s Criminal Code allows prison sentences of up to 10 years for sexual abuse and extortion of a minor, with harsher penalties if committed by a group.