Natasha Krstevska Caleva has resigned from her position as acting chief prosecutor at the Higher Public Prosecutor’s Office in Skopje, citing personal reasons. She was appointed to the post on February 10 to temporarily replace Mustafa Hajrulahi, who had been suspended. The Public Prosecutors’ Council is expected to formally acknowledge her resignation during its 18th session on Monday, sources said.
As DW in Macedonian language reports, Krstevska Caleva’s appointment sparked criticism, with some arguing it resulted from an illegal decision by the Public Prosecutors’ Council. The controversy, along with other concerns, led the Justice Ministry to propose the dismissal of State Public Prosecutor Ljupcho Kocevski, a proposal that the government will review in its session today.
In its reasoning, the Justice Ministry cited a series of scandals, operational dysfunction within the prosecution service, breaches of ethical standards, illegal practices, corruption, inefficiency in criminal prosecutions, and violations of prosecutorial principles.
“The state public prosecutor has been involved in cases where legal provisions indicate potential conflicts of interest and circumstances that raise doubts about his impartiality. He was obligated to recuse himself but failed to do so. Additionally, confidential case information was leaked to the public, violating secrecy obligations,” the ministry said in a statement.
Integrity in Question
Kocevski, who was appointed by Parliament a year ago for a six-year term, has defended his record, stating that he was the only candidate who submitted a comprehensive work program for the prosecution covering 2024-2030. His priorities included a firm stance against crime, improving operational efficiency, strengthening international cooperation, promoting transparency and accountability, ensuring financial independence, and fostering a culture of integrity.
“Integrity is an essential attribute of a public prosecutor’s honesty and fairness. Prosecutors must resist external pressures and uphold professional and principled conduct to ensure the fair application of the law,” Kocevski wrote in his program.
The government’s session today includes an analysis of the Justice Ministry’s proposal for his dismissal.
Political and Legal Fallout
Justice Minister Igor Filkov has accused Kocevski of making serious procedural errors, including his appointment of an acting senior prosecutor without following proper legal procedures.
“This is not only a legal misstep but also a blow to transparency and fair distribution of duties. Appointing an acting senior prosecutor without adhering to legal criteria undermines the integrity and functionality of the prosecution service,” Filkov told MKD.mk.
The ruling VMRO-DPMNE party has held multiple press conferences criticizing Kocevski, claiming he failed to act against judicial corruption.
“If Ljupcho Kocevski had done his job properly, he would have initiated proceedings against the prosecutor and judge who were influenced by Nake Georgiev and Izet Memeti to secure a lighter sentence for Boro Marlboro,” said VMRO-DPMNE lawmaker Brane Petrushevski.
The party also accused Kocevski of being politically aligned with the ruling SDSM party, claiming he failed to tackle high-level corruption cases despite having the necessary institutional backing.
“Over the past eight months, the government ensured that Kocevski had an environment free of political pressure to work effectively. Yet, instead of acting on major corruption cases, he wasted this opportunity,” the party said in a statement.
Their criticism intensified after Transparency International’s latest Corruption Perception Index showed that North Macedonia had dropped 12 places.
The Legal Process for Dismissal
Under Article 63 of the Law on Public Prosecution, the Public Prosecutors’ Council provides an opinion on government proposals to appoint or dismiss the state public prosecutor. Grounds for dismissal include serious disciplinary violations or political party affiliation. The council must issue its opinion within 15 days of receiving the proposal, or within a month at the latest.
Filkov emphasized that while the council’s opinion is important, it is not decisive.
“The Justice Ministry and the government will not base their decision solely on one body’s opinion if it means retaining officials who fail to perform their duties professionally. Even if the council issues a negative opinion on Kocevski’s dismissal, the process will continue,” he said.
Parliament Speaker Afrim Gashi, when asked whether he would consider a government dismissal request valid if the council opposed it, said the assembly would follow legal procedures.
“If the government submits a properly formulated proposal that meets our procedural criteria, we will proceed accordingly. Should constitutional concerns arise, the Constitutional Court will determine whether Parliament has acted within its legal framework,” Gashi told 360 Stepeni.
