Outgoing Prime Minister Zoran Zaev called the open feud between the Skopje Appeals Court and the state prosecutors as “uneasy” for the public to watch and ask them to cooperate with each other. The two institutions, both seen as fully loyal to Zaev, are feuding after the Appeals Court ordered disgraced former Special Prosecutor Katica Janeva be released from detention and sent into house arrest. Prosecutor Vilma Ruskoska responded to this move by threatening the judges who released Janeva that she will go after them.

The citizens want results. When there is animosity between the court and the prosecutors, the citizens react to it with unease. I appeal that there be cooperation between them, Zaev said during a press availability today.

Justice Minister Renata Deskoska, in the meantime, insisted that the judges and the prosecutors will need to be subjected to “vetting” – a procedure being prepared by the SDSM Government which many fear will lead to even greater Government control over the judiciary. She refused to comment directly on the threats from Ruskoska aimed at the Skopje Appeals Court.

Overall I think that you all see what is happening in the judiciary in this past period and I think they are also aware that their sector needs to be reformed, the Minister said.