Political activist and leader of the small “Macedonian Concept” party Petar Bogojeski has been fired from the Defense Ministry. Bogojeski informed the public that he faced a disciplinary procedure because of comments he made accusing the Macedonian Orthodox Church of pro-Russian ties.

This is a classic example of persecution by the Government of those who think differently, an attempt to silence the opposition with unacceptable, undemocratic means, Bogojeski said.

He was a minor VMRO-DPMNE party official during the Colored Revolution, when he joined calls to remove Nikola Gruevski from office. Briefly elevated to a position in the party after Gruevski resigned under strong international and internal pressure, Bogojeski was then removed because of his often controversial and emotionally expressed positions.