A woman from Skopje’s municipality of Aerodrom was removed from her polling station and briefly detained by the police after she tried to vote wearing a face mask emblazoned with the Star of Kutles/Vergina, Macedonia’s original symbol.

She posted a video online, showing the arrest, after saying that she agreed to vote with a “neutral” mask. Campaigning on election day is banned and this includes wearing party face masks, but the Star of Kutles is not an official party symbol.

 

The 16 ray sun symbol, found in the royal tombs of king Philip II of Macedon and in many archaeological sites across Macedonia was on the original Macedonian flag, but was removed under heavy Greek pressure. Greece continues to demand that it is removed from any public site in Macedonia. it is frequently used by supporters of the conservative VMRO-DPMNE party and other right wing parties, but is not on the official party logo.