European foreign affairs sent updated reaction to the events on the current affair “Puch” involving Zoran Zaev, leader of the opposition in Macedonia.
– On Saturday, we already expressed concern about events in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.
As a matter of principle, the Commission does not comment on ongoing investigations. However, the EU is very clear – as we have also expressed in our statement of Saturday – on which principles criminal investigations should be based.
Nonetheless, we are concerned about the political situation in the country. The way in which events over the weekend were handled and the lack of balanced media coverage of the events reinforce these concerns. Let me recall as well the worries already expressed in the progress report last October about the increasing politicisation and perceptions of selective justice. It is therefore of utmost importance that the investigations must be conducted independently and transparently, with full regard for due process and the principle of presumption of innocence – said Federica Mogherini, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.
