An online petition is quickly closing in on its initial goal to collect 2.500 signatures in support of education inspetor Georgi Ilievski.

Ilievski became an instant celebrity in Macedonia after he revealed that his superior, Education Minister Arbr Ademi, and the powerful deputy Interior Minister Agim Nuhiu, both from the DUI party, received unlawful promotions as lecturers in the Tetovo state Unviersity. Ilievski faced threats and pressures at the workplace, and now a disciplinary action, after he refused to shut up about the scandal.

Signatories are leaving messages of support for Ilievski such as “this is the only person brave enough to demand an end to crime in this country” and “we can’t punish people for working in accordance wit hthe law, enough of criminals as politicians”.