Impunity, systemic inertia, selective justice, and long-standing unfulfilled promises mobilized citizens to demand justice for 22-year-old Frosina Kulakova, says political analyst Marko Troshanovski for Radio Free Europe.
She was fatally hit on January 29 while crossing a pedestrian lane by a car driven by a 20-year-old who, according to official reports, lacked a driver’s license, was under the influence of alcohol, and ran a red light on Partizanski Odredi Boulevard in Skopje.
The incident sparked outrage, particularly among students and young people, leading to a protest march on January 31 and a larger one on February 2.
Citizens paid their respects at the accident site near the Universal Hall in Skopje on January 31, 2025.
The slogan “Corruption Kills” has never been more accurate, and many see this tragedy as a stark reminder of the unresolved issue of impunity, Troshanovski says.
“The core problem is much broader—it’s a culture of inertia, corruption, tolerance for crime, influence peddling, and more, which people are now witnessing firsthand through these tragedies,” he adds.
Protests in Serbia following the deadly collapse of a concrete shelter at the Novi Sad train station on November 1, which killed 15 people, have further fueled civic unrest in the region. However, the primary driving force remains citizens’ accumulated frustration over the lack of change.
With a recent change in government, Troshanovski does not expect escalating protests but sees them as a warning and a clear signal.
“It is positive that at the beginning of VMRO-DPMNE’s mandate, citizens are closely monitoring the slow implementation of reforms, particularly in justice and anti-corruption efforts. This is not just a direct message to VMRO-DPMNE but to the entire political establishment over the years, which has neglected these issues. It also serves as a warning to those in power that they could lose public support if they continue to ignore or act too slowly,” he emphasizes.
According to North Macedonia’s police, 60% of road accidents are caused by excessive speed. The country records an average of 65 road fatalities per million inhabitants annually—25% higher than the EU average, as reported at the 2024 International Road Safety Conference organized by the Republic Council for Road Safety.
A traffic camera and automatic penalty system was announced over a decade ago but has yet to be fully implemented. For now, its status remains “coming soon.”
“The Ministry of Interior is implementing this system, and soon we will have an automated system to sanction such behavior. This must happen, regardless of the political cost. Even if we save one life, we will have achieved our goal,” Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski stated on January 31.
However, neither systems, fines, nor police can fully protect the public from reckless drivers who feel untouchable, says Nikola Dujovski, a professor at the Faculty of Security. He advocates for stricter penalties but stresses that poor traffic culture cannot be solved by fines alone.
Driving under the influence with a blood alcohol level above 1.50 g/prome, driving under the influence of drugs, driving against traffic, or exceeding the speed limit by more than 70 km/h are still classified as misdemeanors.
Amendments to the Criminal Code, which would criminalize these offenses, have yet to be enforced. According to the State Prosecutor’s Office, these violations are still legally considered misdemeanors, preventing their prosecution under the Criminal Code.
Meanwhile, the case of Frosina Kulakova is under investigation by the Skopje Public Prosecutor’s Office, with the driver placed in 30-day pretrial detention.