Zoran Zaev’s spokesman Mile Bosnjakovski denied that the Government is behind the police raid on Tuesday afternoon, whose goal was to remove the head of the Islamic Community of Macedonia (IVZ) Sulejman Rexhepi and to install Skender Buzaku in his place.

Rexhepi, who was feuding with the Government and threatened to call the faithful to vote against Zaev’s presidential candidate Stevo Pendarovski, accused the Government of organizing a coup against him.

North Macedonia is a secular state and the Government does not interfere in the work of the religious communities, Bosnjakovski said.

Zaev’s deputy in the SDSM party Muhamed Zekiri openly called for the removal of Rexhepi and is believed to be the main instigator of the police raid. On the other hand, the other main coalition party DUI, expressed its support for Rexpehi.

DUI appears to back Islamic community reis Rexhepi, as SDSM tries to have him removed