Public prosecutor Lenče Ristoska has resigned after decisions by the Council of Public Prosecutors and the newly appointed state prosecutor to remove her from two high-profile “Talir” cases, she said on Thursday.
Ristoska said the moves undermined the position of the prosecution and posed risks to cases targeting high-level corruption and organised crime.
“These decisions seriously weaken the prosecution and create concrete risks for the outcome of cases addressing high corruption and organised crime,” she wrote in a social media post, adding that they ran counter to her vision of an independent institution free from political influence.
She said she no longer saw room to work in line with her principles and had therefore stepped down.
The Council of Public Prosecutors earlier rejected her complaint alleging an attack on her professional integrity and independence, while state prosecutor Nenad Saveski revoked her authority over several cases in their final stages.
Ristoska said work on high-profile cases often generated “high-profile enemies” who used political influence and institutional pressure to avoid accountability, citing alleged pressures on witnesses, legal changes and delays that risked cases becoming time-barred.
She had also recently been excluded from the final selection process for state prosecutor, after the government removed her from the shortlist.
Saveski expressed regret over her resignation, saying he was informed via text message and learned of her reasons through the media.
“The prosecution remains without a prosecutor from whom I expected a strong contribution, particularly in her role as liaison with Eurojust,” he said, adding that the decision to withdraw her authorisations was organisational rather than personal and aimed at improving efficiency.
Ristoska had recently faced political criticism and filed a lawsuit against VMRO-DPMNE over claims she received bonuses during her time at the former Special Prosecutor’s Office.
In recent days, she was removed from the “Talir 1” and “Talir 2” cases, which concern alleged illegal financing involving former officials of VMRO-DPMNE and the party as a legal entity. Prosecutors in the cases have also sought confiscation of party assets.